Loitering persons inside Metro Manila during curfew will be accosted: PNP

March 16, 2020

Those who will be found loitering inside Metro Manila during the implementation of the nine-hour curfew will be accosted, according to Philippine National Police ( PNP) deputy chief for operations Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar.

In an interview with reporters in Valenzuela City, Eleazar said the 8pm to 5am curfew hours should be an ordinance first before it could be implemented.

He said once implemented, those who are exempted in the quarantine will be also exempted in the curfew.

“Difference is from that curfew period, the police now have the teeth to accost those who should not be outside (their homes) during that period,” he said.

“Right now, we can just caution then told them to go home (but during curfew) if they resist then that’s the time they can be arrested in violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code. This is serious disobedience and resistance,” he said.

Eleazar said he only used the term accost because there might be some local government ordinances that will only penalize or fine violators.

“We are not looking for criminals, we need cooperation right now,” he added.

Asked about the mauling incident earlier in the area where a biker punched a policemen after he was refused entry for not showing proper documents, Eleazar said he can be arrested for direct assault and disobedience.

“That ( person) should be arrested. That is the example that we can arrest… that is direct assault and we could add disobedience and resistance. Initially, we will not arrest anyone, we will just ask them (to go home if not needed),” he said.

Eleazar appealed to the public to stay at home if they are not authorized to go out of Metro Manila or feeling sick.

“While it’s true that the police are on the 45 quarantine control points on border, they will still go around to remind and caution people inside Metro Manila,'' said Eleazar.

"I coordinated with General Manager Jojo Garcia of MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) to inform city officials to order their barangay to go around and remind people to stay at home if they are not authorized to go out,” Eleazar said.

“And if you are authorized, make sure you are not sick and bring appropriate documents so that our process in going in and out of borders will be faster,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS