Curfew violators forced to swim in filthy canal?

Screengrab from Reymon Ballena Tulibao’s video
Screengrab from Reymon Ballena Tulibao’s video

A VIDEO of curfew violators who were allegedly forced to swim in a dirty canal as punishment for defying the quarantine protocol sparked outrage from netizens against authorities in Barangay San Antonio, Agdao, Davao City.

In a Facebook video post of Reymon Ballena Tulibao on Saturday, May 30, barangay officials were allegedly punishing curfew violators by forcing them to swim in the canal. Tulibao questioned the protocol in apprehending the violators.

He captioned his post, “Kagawad Capuyan sa Barangay San Antonio Agdao unsa mani? Porket dinakpan sa curfew atubangan ra sa balay paligoon na sa kanal? So okay ra masakit og leptospirosis? [sic] (Barangay San Antonio, Agdao Kagawad Capuyan what is this all about? It doesn’t mean that they violated the curfew they already deserve to be bathed with canal water. Does this mean it is okay for you that they will catch leptospirosis?),” he said.

Under the general community quarantine, individuals are not allowed to go outside between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Tilbao said while he understands the purpose of imposing a curfew and apprehending violators, he could not accept the treatment received by those who were punished.

“Pagawas lang ko og sentimyento kay pagkabalo nako dili na mao ang protocol na himuon sa dinakpan (I just need to get this off my chest because I know that is not part of the protocol when someone is caught for violating the curfew),” Tulibao said.

He cited that one of the violators was his cousin who was just sitting in a parked sidecar in their garage.

“In short, visible siya pero sakop sa among parking area (My cousin was visible but at our parking area),” he said.

In a post by Zosimo Uyanguren, who is one of the curfew violators, he complained about what he experienced as punishment and treatment of the enforcers. He also posted the bruises on his feet and hands after he was allegedly hit by the authorities.

“Sa inyong gipabuhat sa ako ug sa among tanan dli mana makatarungan. Dili mi mamatay sa covid mamatay mi sa leptospirosis gipasalom mi ninyo anang kanal na pirting hugawa og bahua. Naa pay mga pulis pasagad ra og pamunal dili man lang mangutana unsay rason (What you did to us was unfair. We will not die because of Covid, we will die from leptospirosis after you let us swim in the filthy canal. There was also police who unreasonably hit us without asking us the reasons),” Uyanguren said in his post.

In an interview with Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft, he said he ordered the Sta. Ana Police Station to conduct an investigation on the incident and underscored the protocol that should be undertaken when dealing with curfew violators.

“All apprehended persons should be turned over to the nearest police station, even citizen arrest,” Kraft said.

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