Pinay doctor, 3 tourists held for violating quarantine

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — A Filipina doctor, two Swiss and a Spaniard have been arrested in Siargao for violating the enhanced community quarantine being imposed by the government to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Mica Masbad, 27; Swiss tourists Remi Weniger, 44, and Kiser Luca, 37, and Sergio Bango, 37, of Spain, were caught surfing in San Isidro town on April 1, according to M/Sgt. Michael Malasa, desk officer of the municipal police.

Residents sought police assistance after seeing the four frolicking on the beach and not observing social distancing.

The four were held at the detention cell of the San Isidro police station.

They were released after the period for arbitrary detention lapsed as no prosecutor was available to inquest them.

Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, a doctor was jailed for 12 hours after he reportedly called a police officer stupid on Saturday.

The 44-year-old doctor from Talisay City was reportedly furious after Senior M/Sgt. Raymund Solilapsi pulled him over at a quarantine checkpoint in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City.

The doctor reportedly told the officer that he was going to the city to have his bicycle repaired.

Patw. Grezel Ann Abastillas reportedly heard the doctor called Solilapsi stupid, prompting them to arrest him.

Charges of oral defamation and violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority will be filed today against the doctor, Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, spokesman for Bacolod City police, said.