With the return of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces to the general community quarantine (GCQ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pushing for the imposition of imprisonment on those who do not wear or use face masks properly.
In an interview with “Dobol B on News TV” on Wednesday, DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said it was time to enforce the law strictly and not allow those who violate health protocols to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19).
“‘Yung isa pang mungkahi namin na kapag nahuli ka na may face mask ka nga, nakababa naman, nakalabas ang ilong mo, nakalabas ang bibig mo, eh 15 days ang kulong mo,” said Diño.
“Pagka naman, halimbawa, talagang wala kang face mask, eh, 30 days. So ito ‘yung mga bagay na dapat pagkasunduan at agad-agad, i-implement natin,” he added.
The agency also wants to impose similar penalties on violators of quarantine protocols after the mayors of Metro Manila agreed to implement a curfew from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m.
“Kaya nga may mungkahi din kami na sana pati ‘yung parusa diyan pare-pareho na. Kung halimbawa, ‘yung multa, ‘yung first offense, ‘yung second offese, third offense,” the DILG official said.
Also read: Unified curfew implemented in Metro Manila
DILG official wants jail time for face mask violators
Diño added that the strict implementation of quarantine protocols should start at the barangay level.
“Definitely hihigpitan na natin ‘yan. Hindi na puwede ‘yung anim na buwan na tayo dito [sa community quarantine], hindi na puwede ‘yung pagbibigyan mo,” he said.
“Basta nasa labas sila, nahuli ka ng nasa labas ng tahanan mo, kahit nasa harap ka lang ng bahay mo, kapag tumungtong ka ng sidewalk, tumungtong ka ng kalsada, naabutan ka ng ating mga tanod, ng ating kapulisan, ikaw ay aarestuhin, dalhin sa barangay hall o dalhin sa prisinto para mai-dokumento ‘yung kaukulan ng kaso,” he added.
The Joint Task Force COVID Shield allegedly arrested more than 300,000 quarantine violators.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Lapu Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Municipality of Minglanilla in Cebu, and Municipality of Consolacion in Cebu under general community quarantine until August 31.