20 go for Easter swim, arrested in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 20 people were arrested after they were caught swimming at the beach in Cebu City in violation of the guidelines under the ongoing enhanced community quarantine against COVID-19.

The first four arrestees were identified as Mark Valves, Jesus Rondero, Genelyn Esmeña, and Sopio Talisic Jr.

According to Police Captain Miles Damoog, Waterfront Police Station chief, they received information that there were several people seen swimming at a beach near the South Road Properties (SRP) in Barangay San Roque, Cebu City, Easter Sunday morning.

Damoslog added that their act was clear violation of the executive order that prohibits people from entering the beach properties and swimming in line with the celebration of Easter Sunday.

Waterfront police later arrested two more violators.

Cebu City Police Office OIC Director Colonel Josefino Ligan reported that eight more people were also arrested by Carbon police, two by San Nicolas police, and four by Mambaling police, bringing the total arrested persons to 20.

The arrestees will face charges for violation of the quarantine rules.

In Lapu-Lapu City, police office chief Colonel Carlito Baja said they augmented the PNP personnel to man and monitor the beaches yesterday but as of this writing, no person was arrested yet.

“Nagpasalamat gyud ko kay wala gyuy nagpakita diri sa beach, wala gyuy naligo. Wa mi nadakpan so far ug sukad pagkagahapon (April 11, 2020) pagsugod namo, wala gyud, mingaw (We are thankful that it's quiet here),” Baja said.

Baja said that those who will be arrested will face a charge for violation of the executive order on the curfew, as well as possible disobedience to agents of persons in authority if they resist their arrest.

Baja said that there is a 24-hour stay at home order or curfew in effect in the city. The penalty for first offense is a fine of P1,000, for the second offense is P3,000, and third offense, P5,000.

Additional Order

But even as Easter is over, beaches in the province will remain off-limits to the public.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed Saturday night Executive Order No. 5-l-1 which bans entry to private and public beaches within the province, along with other bodies of water. Among the enumerated bodies of water are waterfalls and rivers, which are popular local and international tourist destinations in Cebu.

“It is imperative that a prohibition on persons swimming in beaches and other bodies of water, including, including the gathering of persons therein, is implemented in order [to] further prevent the spread of COVID-19,” the EO reads.

On Saturday, Garcia warned residents that the usual practice of going to the beach during Easter would be a violation of the protocols of the declared enhanced community quarantine.

Along with the EO, Garcia also issued a memorandum addressed to Provincial Police Office Director, Col. Roderick Mariano, which tasks the police to implement the prohibition.

“Make no mistake about it. Ang tanan natong PNP are under strict orders. Ipadakop ta mo (violators),” she said during a press conference.

Garcia reminded Cebuanos that her preventive EOs are backed up by a provincial ordinance which penalizes violators with a fine of P5,000 and a penalty of one year imprisonment, or both, depending on the court's discretion.

The governor, once again, urged residents to stay at home.

“Naa mo dapat sa balay. Kung naglaroy-laroy mo without a quarantine pass, ipadakop ta mo. Unya, pa file-an ta mo gihapon og kaso. Sama sa giingon ko, pag-andam na lang mo og abogado kay ang abogado diri’s Kapitolyo, wa’y laing lingaw, nangita og kaso (We will not hesitate to file cases against those who will violate our stay at home order),” she said. JMD (FREEMAN)