President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the arrest of anyone who will be taking part in mass gathering activities which are considered prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a speech on Wednesday night, Duterte said he would find a law that would allow the police to arrest and detain those who attend mass gatherings.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said that there were a number of superspreader events in the NCR Plus area.
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“Most of you are committing a crime because you know that after gathering, after swimming together, a lot of you will get positive for COVID-19,” he said.
“It seems you’re ignoring the government’s plea and it’s criminal for you to get COVID-19 and pass it on to another innocent person. It is really a crime,” he said.
Duterte also threatens barangay captains in areas where superspreader events were held.
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“Kapag may isang one single incident beginning tonight, the police will just arrest the barangay captain first and bring him to the station together with the ‘yong nagpi-picnic diyan ang maaresto silang lahat, have them investigated and detain them,” he said.
“It’s a valid one. Huwag kayong matakot na mag-aresto ng barangay captain. There is a law which says, the captain must — barangay captain being a person in authority must enforce the law within his jurisdiction. Failing it, then you are guilty or liable for the crime of dereliction of duty. Mabuti ‘yan klaro. Eh kayong mga pulis kung ayaw ninyong mag-aresto, then the same,” Duterte added. (TDT)
