MORE than 18,000 individuals were arrested over the past week for not wearing face masks or wearing these improperly, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said on Monday evening, May 10, 2021.
Of the 18,862 individuals apprehended from May 6 to 10, 904 were arrested, 9,379 were let off with a warning, 8,027 were fined, 491 rendered community service and 61 underwent inquest.
Año also reported to President Rodrigo Duterte that 280 people were apprehended for violating the prohibition on mass gatherings.
He cited the arrest of the barangay chairman of Barangay 171 in Caloocan City and the filing of charges against the owner of Gubat sa Ciudad resort, which opened on May 9 despite the prohibition under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) protocol.
“So ang atin pong PNP (Philippine National Police) at ang LGU ng Caloocan City ay nagsasagawa na po ng pag-file ng mga kaso sa mga violators kasama po ‘yong owner ng Ciudad -- ng Gubat sa Ciudad Resort, at ang pag-summon at pag-aresto po sa barangay captain ng Barangay 171 Caloocan City,” he said.
The barangay captain was apprehended for failure to prevent the mass gathering.
Año also said 5,473 others were arrested for not observing physical distancing, of whom 205 were made to render community service, 186 underwent inquest, while the others paid a fine or were simply warned.
Arrests over the failure to wear a face mask in public or improper wearing of one were implemented after Duterte issued an order on May 5 as a measure against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) transmission. (SunStar Philippines)