Malacañang said yesterday that foreigners staying in the country are not exempted from the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in Luzon and are free to leave the Philippines if they do not want to follow the lockdown restrictions.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after it was reported that foreigners living at the Pacific Plaza Towers in Taguig City were violating quarantine protocols.
Roque reminded foreign nationals that the ECQ applies to all.
“Ang mensahe po ng Presidente: Ang ECQ po ipatutupad sa lahat – sa mayaman, sa mahirap, sa Pilipino, o sa dayuhan,” he said.
“Kung ayaw niyo pong tumupad diyan, lalung-lalo na yung mga dayuhan, umalis na po kayo ng Pilipinas. You are free to go,” he added.
Early this week, it was reported that “uniformed and armed police officers went to the Pacific Plaza Towers in Taguig after receiving a call from the Office of the Mayor of Taguig City on alleged violations being committed by residents there.”
The policemen were seen in a video shouting at the residents and unit owners to return to their units.
Last Monday, Roque said the police cannot enter private properties unless there’s a crime committed there, they were invited, or they have a search warrant. He added that the constitutional right of the people to security cannot be violated.
“Meron pong nagsumbong sa pulis na naging dahilan kaya pumasok po sila sa Pacific Plaza,” he said.
“Meron daw ilang mga residente, ilang mga dayuhan na mayayaman, na nagpupumilit at lumalabag sa ECQ, tumatambay sa tinatawag na common area kasama na ‘yung swimming pool,” he added. (Argyll Geducos)
