The Manila Police District (MPD) will not tolerate its police officer caught on video hitting a resident who violated the enhanced community quarantine in Quiapo, Manila.
The police also threatened to shoot anyone who would go out in the streets.
MPD Director PBGen Rolando Miranda said the incident had reached him, and he had ordered an investigation into it.
“The leadership of the Manila Police District will neither tolerate nor condone any wrongdoing of any of our Policemen while strictly implementing the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” Miranda said.
The video also shows a man appearing at the gate of the mosque showing their quarantine pass.
But they did not allow the man to go out and the police hit him with a stick.
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MPD to investigate police who hit, threaten to shoot quarantine violators
The man recording the video insisted that only one person per family could go out to buy food.
The police officer was identified as Lt. Col. Rey Magdaluyo, chief of Sta. Cruz Manila police station.
Magdaluyo defended the residents repeatedly violated the quarantine rules despite their efforts to stop them.
However, Miranda called on the Manileños to unite in a call to stay indoors to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease.
“The leadership of the MPD would like to appeal to each and everyone to fully cooperate, by obeying the rules and to please be part of the solution to the serious problem the country is facing due to the spread of COVID 19,” Miranda added.