BY AARON RECUENCO
Only leaders and organizers of big Christmas parties would be arrested for violation of quarantine protocols as the Philippine National Police (PNP) said hauling off violators to jail may only cause mass infection.
But PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas expressed hope that the public would heed the advice of health experts to refrain from partying this month, saying it may lead to upsurge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
“Our guidance to our commanders is to disperse the gathering and bring the leaders or organizers to the police station for them to explain and face any violation,” said Sinas in a television interview.
He said that during the discussion with the PNP leadership, it was agreed that bringing all those who would attend the party to the police station is risky for infection to both those on duty in the police station and for those who would be arrested.
Sinas explained that by hauling them off to jail, especially those who held parties for more than 50 people, violation of social distancing rules would be inevitable.
He said he also instructed all police commanders not to bring minors and senior citizens to the police station but immediately send them home since those age brackets are prone to infection based on studies.
President Duterte himself called for cooperation of the public in the health safety measures of the government for COVID-19 during his regular weekly address. (Aaron Recuenco)
