THE Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the public that children caught violating quarantine protocols will not be arrested.
The assurance was given by PNP Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar, after the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that children who violate quarantine protocols should not be arrested and should instead be given the proper intervention and brought back to their parents.
The PNP Chief said the police would immediately talk to the parents if their children committed violations. The PNP is also working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in handling kids who commit violations.
“PNP personnel will not really arrest children who will violate curfew or other quarantine protocols being implemented in Metro Manila,” he said.
“Early on, when children commit violations, the police talk to the parents so that they will be the ones to inform their children what they did and why it is bad,” PGen. Eleazar said.
He likewise assured the public that the PNP is fully aware of the rights of children.
“We assure the CHR and the public that it falls within our mandate to care for and protect our children. We also are fully aware of the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 including its amendments,” PGen. Eleazar said.