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DILG says ‘shoot to kill’ threat of QC exec improper, illegal


The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday condemned the supposed "shoot to kill" threat of the head of the Quezon City Task Force Disiplina to those who will violate quarantine protocols in the city.

In a statement, DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the remark of Rannie Ludovica was "improper and illegal," as he advised the official to desist from issuing similar statements in the future.

"While we strongly believe that discipline is one of the preventive measures to stop the transmission of the coronavirus, this must be enforced within the bounds of the law and the DILG will not tolerate any possible abuse of authority on the part of law enforcement agencies or enforcement units of local government units," Malaya said.

"The penalties to be imposed by local government units against quarantine violators must be within the bounds of their respective ordinances," he added.

Malaya said the local government of Quezon City has disowned the alleged FB post of Ludovica, "saying that it should not be taken literally, if true, and that it was merely an expression of frustration over the growing number of violations in Quezon City."

GMA News Online has tried to reach Ludovica via his personal Facebook account but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

But in a statement posted on his Facebook account, Ludovica clarified that the local government of Quezon City had no shoot to kill policy against quarantine violators.

Ludovica also said his post was personal.

 

Posted by Rannie Ludovica on Monday, August 3, 2020

 

"Nagmula ang nasabing personal na Facebook post ng inyong lingkod sa aking pagkadismaya sa pagbalik natin mula sa GCQ to MECQ," he said. "Patuloy na tumataas ang bilang ng COVID-19 sa lungsod at buong bansa dahil sa kawalan ng disiplina ng karamihan sa ating mga mamamayan at paglabag nila sa batas."

Ludovica stressed that the public should strictly follow health and safety protocols to combat the pandemic.

Earlier reports said Ludovica had supposedly threatened quarantine violators with a shoot to kill policy: "Mula bukas, shoot to kill na ang lalabag sa MECQ." — RSJ, GMA News

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