Año says condo owners cannot make rules on implementing ECQ

April 21, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said condominium owners cannot make their own rules on how they will implement the enhanced community quarantine (EQC).

In a TV interview, Año said said the city government of Taguig under Mayor Lino Cayetano has issued guidelines, that common areas in condominium towers should be restricted and quarantine rules must be followed.

Año said he also saw the video and the police officer involved was not waving his gun at the residents.

“I saw the video. there was no gun toting, no wielding of arms and our policemen went there because several people called the city government that there are people violating  social distancing in the common area, particularly in the pool area… so they went there not on their own will but because they are actually responding to a call from city government,” Año said.

“This can be easily discussed but you know, the condo owners cannot make their own rules. We are under public health emergency, under state of calamity… the Philippines is under one republic, they are part of the republic of the Philippines so they should respect the lawmen,” he said.

Año made the statement after a video circulated on social media showing a police officer accosting the condominium residents for still loitering in the pool area and not observing social distancing.

Año said the Joint Task Force COVID Shield is  investigating the incident and he assured the public that the behavior of the police officer will be dealt separately.

“In fact, (Police Lieutenant) General Guillermo Eleazar ordered for an investigation over the incident. There is also an altercation with the property manager but you know it could have been avoided,” he said.

“Maybe our police personnel also committed mistake by shouting (at residents) but we will treat it separately,” he said.

Año welcomeS any charges that will be filed against the officer involved but he asked the public to respect and follow the ECQ rules.

“There are no rich or poor when we implemented the quarantine. We have to respect and follow strictly the rules like face mask and social distancing, because that is the only purpose of our policemen why they go there,” he said.

“If they are going to file charges against our policemen, well that is welcome... at least our personnel can deFend themselves on due process,” Año added.

In a virtual briefing, the chief of the Philippine National Police, General Archie Francisco Gamboa said he stand firm on the statements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the chief of police of Taguig City.

“The NCRPO together with the chief of police have already decided and I stand firm on their decision that our police personnel has no fault here and they just responded to a call asking for their assistance,” Gamboa said.

The management of the Pacific Plaza Towers (PPT) said they will file charges against the police officer whom they claimed just “barged in” and shouted at toresidents who are observing social distancing as this caused fear.

Taguig City said they asked for the assistance of BGC Police Community Precinct after they received reports some residents were not observing the enhanced community quarantine guidelines.

They said they will file charges if it is proven that the cop involved pointed his gun  to the residents.

The NCRPO also said that they are investigating the matter to determine the appropriate charges that may be filed against the management of the establishment for violation of ECQ related laws. Ella Dionisio/DMS