AMID the continuing onslaught of the deadly virus from Wuhan, China as reflected in the daily tally of infections, President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a direct order to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement groups to arrest persons violating safety protocols – particularly the mandatory wearing of face masks.
“Now itong mask, iyong iba ano lang for compliance lang. Naglalagay ng mask pero nakalabas ‘yong ilong. My orders to the police are those who are not wearing their masks properly in order to protect the public — kasi kung hindi, hindi mo madepensahan ‘yong publiko — to arrest them and detain them, investigate them why they are doing it,” Duterte said in his most recent national address.
The President cited the urgency of enforcing the mandatory wearing of protective face masks even as he claimed that he has no other choice but to be strict if only to ensure a slowdown of contamination.
“You have nine hours. I-detain mo tapos imbestigahin mo siya kung bakit ganoon ang behavior nila. Pagka hindi ko ganunin, hindi ko kayo higpitan, walang mangyayari. Iyan nga ‘yong for compliance lang kayo,” Duterte added.
The Malacañang chief executive explained that while cases are seen declining in the National Capital Region and the adjoining provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan, hospitals remain full and could no longer accommodate patients.
“Alam mo mga kababayan ang importante talaga ‘yong COVID kasi marami na ring namamatay, marami pa sa ospital. Sabi ng mga experts, ako hindi man, na bumaba na raw ‘yong infection tapos — pero ang mga ospital puno pa rin,” aniya.
He further claimed that the imposition of sanctions is for the good of the people.
“Kung nag-iisip ka, may isip ka pa, sundin mo ‘yong utos ng gobyerno kasi hindi ‘yan akin, hindi amin. Para ‘yan sa interes ng bayan na hindi ka makahawa, hindi ka mahawa, hindi ka mag-uwi, hindi mo mahawaan ang iba,” he quipped.