PNP chief asks for public understanding in their job

April 29, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday asked for the public’s understanding as they might step on some people’s privacy while implementing their job in protecting the public’s health.

“Remember that argument now is what is more important, national interest which is health or right privacy of which a lot of human rights advocates are looking at the violation,'' said Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa in an interview while inspecting quarantine control points in Quezon City.

''As much as possible the primary consideration of the government is the public health and the implementation in a way there is transgression into private life through checkpoints,” Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said in an interview during his inspection in quarantine control points in Quezon City.

“For the interest now of public health, we now have the power to inquire at least if they authorized to work. In that very simple way, we can see that there is invasion of privacy because we are trying to protect the public of a higher interest which is public health and I hope the public would understand this,” he added.

Gamboa said he is conducting inspections after the PNP received reports  there are some irregularities in the quarantine control points.

the PNP chief assured that their personnel were being reminded about privacy rights.

“ We kept on reminding our policemen that even if the situation is like this, there is still privacy,” he said.

On the issue of entering private areas and establishments, Gamboa said the PNP only act if they receive a call asking for assistance.

“Now there have been debates on that but I can only say, remember when there is an initial violation and for that reason the PNP pursues a certain call or a certain cause.Then, there is no such question there,” he said.

Defending the police officer who had a confrontation with a foreigner inside Dasmarinas Village in Makati City last Sunday, Gamboa said if a person starts to misbehave, the PNP personnel always has the right to arrest them.

“So when you are told to calm down, you are told that you are arrested for that reason and you start to behave not in accordance with the normal behavior… then the PNP personnel has always the right to arrest you,” he said.

Gamboa reiterated that no more warning for enhanced community quarantine violators and they will be arrested.

“In fairness to the public, when we started our implementation (with only) warning there was an average of 8,000 violations per day starting March 17 but now it has gone now to almost 300 per day. So that's a very big improvement that maybe the public appreciate the quarantine measures,” he said.

“But nevertheless… there will be no excuses. If there is violation then we will charge you, file a case against you either in accordance with ordinances with penalties and fines or against violation of national laws,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS