Punong barangays to face charges if they fail to enforce quarantine protocols – KPPO PD

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Even under Modified General Community Quarantine, the Kalinga Provincial Police Office (KPPO) reminds the village chiefs to ensure that their constituents shall adhere to the allowed percentage of capacity of certain areas to avoid mass gathering and maintain social distancing.

Just this Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte in his national address ordered the Philippine National Police to arrest barangay captains if they fail to prevent mass gatherings in their areas and investigate them for dereliction of duty.

KPPO Provincial Director, PCol Davy Vicente Limmong said that a warrantless arrest can be done if the people were caught in the act violating health protocols, but if the incident happened long before it was reported, the regular filing of cases will be followed.

And if a barangay captain fails to enforce the law in his area, he will be charged, Limmong added.

“Dagitoy barangay officials isuda iti residente dita ket isuda iti in-authority dita nga area ... am-ammu da dagita residente, ammu da amin nu anya iti mang-mangyari dita, we appeal to them nga immediately anawaen da, bagbagaan da dagijay tattao kuma,” he said.

The Kalinga police provincial director added that if the barangay officials cannot already control the people, they should seek the help of the police. However, if they tolerate the mass gathering and did nothing to enforce the law, they will be charged.

Meanwhile, Limmong said that so far, there was no reported case of super spreader events in Kalinga.

With a more relaxed quarantine imposition, Limmong reminds the public that the restrictions were only loosen, but it doesn’t mean that mass gatherings are already allowed. He also reiterated that people should still observe the basic self-protection protocols against COVID 19, such as social distancing, wearing of face mask and face shields, and the regular washing of hands and use of disinfectant.

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