Palace says authorities may resort to warrantless arrest if there’s violation of ordinance

July 20, 2020

Malacañang said on Monday that authorities are allowed to enforce warrantless arrest if there is a violation of an ordinance.

"There's an ordinance being implemented by the local government. And it is in the Rules of Court that if a law enforcer has personal knowledge, he sees that there is a violation of the ordinance, they have the power to resort to warrantless arrest," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press briefing.

The spokesman made the comment following reports that the Quezon City has set rules for warrantless arrest and apprehension of quarantine violators amid the rising number of coronavirus disease cases in the city.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued a memorandum, which provides that a peace officer or a private person may arrest without a warrant a person caught violating health-related ordinances.

As of July 19, according to the Department of Health, Quezon City had 5,222 COVID-19 cases, with 2,740 recoveries and 267 deaths. Celerina Monte/DMS