Community service recommended vs quarantine violators

MANILA, Philippines — Violators apprehended during the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in the National Capital Region Plus Bubble should be penalized with community service, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra recommended yesterday.

Guevarra said he made the recommendation during the latest meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Noting that people are experiencing financial difficulties due to the pandemic, Guevarra said that community service is a compassionate response, instead of requiring violators to pay fines or placing them in prison.

The NCR Plus Bubble or areas placed under ECQ due to escalating COVID cases are Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

Guevarra urged local government units to consider his recommendation, noting that life is hard under the ECQ.

He said the Metro Manila mayors seemed amenable to his recommendation.

“The reaction of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. was loud and clear. He said he would immediately request all MMDA mayors/councils to review their existing ordinances and consider community service as an alternative penalty,” Guevarra said.

Mandaue mayor catches COVID-19

Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes has tested positive for COVID.

As this developed, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla announced that he too, contracted the virus.

In a post on social media yesterday, Cortes said he underwent swab test the other day after he manifested symptoms of the disease.

Cortes’ executive secretary John Eddu Ibañez said the mayor is on home quarantine.

Cortes’ wife Sarah tested negative, Ibañez said.

All members of the mayor’s household including the househelpers and drivers will be subjected to swab tests.

“Contact tracing has started for those who came in contact with the mayor in the past few days,” Ibañez said.

Meanwhile, Padilla said he experienced mild symptoms of the virus and urged people who came in contact with him in the past few days to isolate and monitor themselves. – Raymund Catindig, The Freeman