48 curfew violators detained for days in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Due to the absence of court personnel to process their inquest, 48 persons in Manila were detained for days due to curfew violations and other offenses during the implementation of the Metro Manila enhanced community quarantine. 

Manila chief prosecutor Joselito Obejas yesterday said the detainees were ordered released Friday but only after days of being in police stations. 

Their cases were either referred for further investigation or dismissed outright.

There were no docket staff and stenographers since Wednesday due to the lack of public transport and declaration of work from home policy.

It was Friday when inquest proceedings resumed, Obejas said.

“I called for the indispensably needed staff to report to the office to process the cases of alleged ordinance violators. We really face a difficult situation now,” Obejas said.

Obejas lamented that his office is receiving criticisms for the prolonged detention of alleged violators even when court personnel are risking their lives amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We are still in the field despite the COVID crisis and yet we are being criticized,” Obejas said.