16 quarantine violators nabbed over drinking session in Taguig

Sixteen individuals were arrested in Taguig City for allegedly violating quarantine protocols, the Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield said on Tuesday.

JTF COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said the 16 people were  having a drinking session along Aguirre Street in Lower Bicutan as part of a birthday celebration on September 12.

Eleazar said a concerned citizen reported the incident to the local police and provided photos of the drinking session through the Facebook page of the task force.

Operatives of the Hagonoy Police Sub-Station 9 went to the area and found that the attendees were not wearing face masks and not observing social distancing.

Eleazar identified those arrested as Ralph Cruz, 19; Nichole Cruz, 21; Michael Quijou, 21; Christian Pregil, 21; Paul Belarmino, 21; Ian Augala, 21; Enen Sison, 21; Jojo Angala, 39; Jackie Bosque, 37; Franz Pascua, 19; Monica Reyes, 19; Kevin John de Guzman, 23; Ivan Pacete, 21; Gabriel Inserto, 21;, Mark Anthony Ortigas, 21; and a 17-year-old female.

He said they would face charges for alleged violation of the Taguig City Ordinance Number 27-89 (Drinking in Public Places) and violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority).

According to Eleazar, the incident was the first quarantine violation-related police operation since the JTF COVID Shield activated a Facebook page on September 11 where netizens can report breaches in quarantine regulations.

This was in relation to the directive to police commanders to monitor social media for quarantine violations, a measure supported by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“The operation in Taguig City is a proof of what we as a country could achieve in terms of protecting public health if we would all work together to protect ourselves and our community from the coronavirus,” Eleazar said.

"We hope that this successful operation would encourage more of our kababayan to report to us all the quarantine violations in their community. We assure them of our quick response and the protection of their identity,” he added.

The measure has been met with criticism for allegedly rights violations but the police have insisted that they would only monitor public photos or videos, and that further investigation will be made upon monitoring.

Eleazar also said this measure would include even government officials or other prominent personalities violating quarantine rules. - MDM, GMA News