Malacañang has called on law enforcers and barangay officials to always keep the law in mind when implementing the strict quarantine restrictions, reminding them that they will be punished if they go overboard.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after a video of Quezon City authorities mauling and dragging a fish vendor after failing to wear a face mask and bringing his quarantine pass while selling outdoors.
In an interview over GMA-7, Roque appealed to quarantine enforcers to be mindful that their actions have consequences.
“Nananawagan po ako sa lahat ng ating mga tagapagpatupad ng ECQ, kailangan po gawin natin ‘yan sang-ayon sa batas,” he said Wednesday.
“Naniniwala naman po ako na ‘yung mga nagkakamali ay didisiplinahin ng kanya-kanyang mga lokal na pamahalaan,” he added.
In the video, four masked men were seen dragging a crying and screaming fish vendor identified as Michael Rubuia towards an L300 van while another man kept hitting him with a wooden stick.
According to Roque, he has seen the viral video and he was assured by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte that an investigation was already ongoing.
“It will be partial, it will be fair, and the proper will be meted in case there’s a violation on the part of barangay officials,” he said in another interview over ANC.
Meanwhile, Roque said law enforcers should also use their common sense when manning the checkpoints.
Roque made the statement after another viral video showed that a delivery van carrying oxygen tanks was barred from exiting a checkpoint in Zytec Riosa Compound in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City on Sunday despite showing their quarantine passes and relevant government permits.
A certain Noel Talon manning the checkpoint even did not seem to mind if a patient would die due to the delay.
“Eh, ‘di mamatay!” he was heard saying, even nodding after the man taking the video confirmed what he just said that he will allow a patient to die.
Roque said those manning the checkpoints should know by now that it would always be a case-to-case basis.
“Bagama’t alam po natin ang mga palatuntunan ay kinakakailangan naman po meron tayong case-to-case basis,” he said.
“Yung mga nangangailangan ng atensyong medikal ay palusutin na po natin. Gamitan naman natin ng common sense,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)