Quarantine violators may face indefinite detention: Eleazar

April 13, 2020

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Monday warned violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) they may face indefinite detention under the Department of Justice (DOJ) electronic inquest.

Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF COVID Shield commander, said  under the terms of the e-inquest, those arrested for curfew and other guidelines for the ECQ would be taken to the police stations.

They would be presented to government prosecutors using various applications that offer video chat or video conference.

“If the violators think they can escape because the prosecutors office are closed, they are wrong. We have e-inquest which means a case can still file against them for violating the quarantine law,” he said.

He said once violators are charged, the main problem that they would be facing is where to post bail since the courts  are all closed as a result of the ECQ.

“We have an online inquest but there is no online detention. This means that they have to stay in jail until the courts reopen to process their bail,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar added Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa ordered police commanders to coordinate with the DOJ to strengthen the 'e-inquest' procedures, starting with ensuring that  internet connection is strong.

Gamboa also directed all police commanders to ensure the safety and welfare of their men in dealing with curfew violators and in the conduct of various operations and other law enforcement functions.

Eleazar said that Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento brought out that the e-inquest has been proven effective in Quezon City and other cities across the country.

“We need to maximize the e-inquest especially that the ECQ was already extended. We will work together with the PNP, especially at the level of the police stations where the filing of charges happens,” Malcontento said.

“We will also check the capability on our side,” he added.

Eleazar directed his warning  to repeat offenders, or those who were already accosted but were just warned not to violate home quarantine and social distancing rules.

Based on their latest data, a total of 108,088 curfew violators were  apprehended across the country from March 17 to April 12.

Of the figure, 71.23 percent of them, or a total of 76,989 were just warned while a total of 4,969 were fined.

A total of 5,539 of them were formally charged while 20,591 will be charged.

Eleazar advised the public to stay at home and follow the home quarantine rules not only to ensure their safety and of their family but  as their own contribution to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

Eleazar said the 'e-inquest' is also  for other violations such as hoarding, profiteering, manipulation of prices of basic commodities and medical supplies and those who violate the ban on public transport. Ella Dionisio/DMS