Manila police official threatens quarantine violators will be shot

A police official in Manila was caught on video threatening and even cursing residents who were reportedly violating the enhanced community quarantine meant to stay the spread of COVID-19.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras", Police Lieutenant Colonel Reynaldo Magdaluyo berated the residents at a compound near the Manila Golden Mosque in Quiapo.

"Lahat ng lalabas ng walang oras, babarilin na!" he was heard saying in a video.

Magdaluyo is the chief of Station Three of the Manila Police District.

"Alis ka d'yan. Bakit oras ba ngayon?! 'Yan ba dapat gamitin ngayon?1 P-- ina n'yo matigas ulo mo!" Magdaluyo said.

"Umuwi ka! Umuwi ka! 'T-- ina n'yo ah. Sumunod kayo sa procedure! Akala n'yo passes yung quarantine pass!" he added.

The individual who took the video said many residents did not follow the community quarantine.

Magdaluyo has declined to make any comment.

MPD chief Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda said the matter was under investigation.

"Paiimbestigahan ko ito. Kanina ko lang nalaman,"  Miranda said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Though a witness agreed that many residents were disobeying authorities, he said that the MPD station chief should not have resorted to violence.

"Sa amin ayaw namin ganon na nanakit sa kapwa mo. Warning-an lang sila," Macalanggan Cahar said.

"Sa akin okay lang 'yun dahil pang-disiplina lang sa mga tao. 'Tsaka hindi pa naman malakas 'yung pag-hahampas niya," Mustafah Taratingan, a resident, meanwhile said.

Due to disobedience, army personnel has been deployed in the area.

Authorities have also tightened measures wherein residents can only leave from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There are 32 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Manila.

In the Emergency Operation Center of the Manila Health Department, all individuals entering must undergo disinfection procedures.

The lack of personal protective equipment was also a challenge for its frontliners who have begun to use garbage bags as an alternative.

"Napaka degrading po kasi para tayong lumalaban sa isang laban na wala tayong panlaban. Pero ang importante po ngayon at least kahit papaano hindi tayo sumusuko gumagawa't gumagawa tayo ng paraan," Manila COVID-19 Surveillance Officer Jess Bernejo said. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News