Police: No ‘inhumane punishment’ for ECQ violators

CEBU, Philippines —  Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro assured yesterday that the police will not tolerate “inhumane punishment” on those found violating Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) protocols.

This after a 59-year-old woman was accosted in Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City Thursday after authorities suspected that the ECQ pass she was bringing was fake.

The woman who had history of a mild stroke was made to walk five to six kilometers as punishment. She was accosted by Tagalog-speaking policemen on Carlock Street at around 7 a.m. on while on her way to buy food for breakfast.

Ferro said policemen who will be found enforcing unnecessary punishments will face sanctions.

"We will be track or reprimand all those who have been doing the other form of punishment that is not written on the Republic Act 11332," Ferro said.

The procedure now is to file a case directly against a violator, Ferro said.

Ferro said the Special Action Force (SAF) members who were deployed to Cebu to help enforce ECQ rules were advised repeatedly to observe maximum tolerance. 

"Ang atoa nga instruction sa ilaha, pag naay mga elderly, isakay nato sa patrol para kung naay violation, dalhon sa station then i-file yung case," Ferro said.

(Our instruction to them is to let the elderly violators ride the patrol car and bring them to the police station so a case can be filed against them.)

"Ang SAF is educated on the protocols and the different implementable guidelines kanang non-wearing of facemasks, stay at home policy, physical distancing, and other health minimum standards," he added.

Previously, Ferro urged the public who experience police intimidation in the field to file a formal complaint with PRO-7.

"Just report it to us and we will surely conduct an investigation and we will impose disciplinary measures," Ferro said during a press briefing on June 29,2020.  JMO (FREEMAN)