200 detained in Manila for COVID-19 protocol, MECQ curfew violations

Police officers in Manila detained around 200 people for COVID-19 health protocol and modified enhance community quarantine curfew infractions, GMA News' Jonathan Andal reported Friday on 24 Oras.

Among those arrested were 20 patrons and service staff of a bar that was still open and operating despite it being 10:30 p.m. in violation of the MECQ curfew.

Aside from violating the curfew, the bar patrons were also caught violating distancing protocols and were not wearing face masks. Some of them were also caught smoking in a public area, which is in breach of a city ordinance.

Several of the bar customers were foreigners, among them a belligerent UK national whom police officers had to subdue and handcuff.

"Resisting arrest siya, disobedience eh. Nakita niyo naman kung anong asal niya," said Ermita police commander Police Lieutenant Colonel Evangeline Cayaban.

(He resisted arrest, was disobedient. You saw how he behaved.)

The foreign national however insisted that he did nothing wrong. "I am not disobedient. I'm always obedient. I'm a nice guy," said the foreigner.

The people detained at the bar, as well well as the others who were detained across Manila for pandemic protocol violations were brought to a plaza where police noted down their personal information.

"Sa susunod, if ever, tomorrow, makuha namin sila ulit, we will file a case against them," explained Cayaban. "For now, pangangaralan namin sila. Ipapaliwanag namin sa kanila kung bakit sila nandito ngayon. Tapos pauuwiin po sila."

(The next time, even tomorrow, if we catch them violating protocols again, we will file a case against them. For now, we're just going to give them some advice, explain to them why they were detained. They're free to go home afterward.)

However, the allegedly uncooperative foreign national was brought to the Manila police headquarters. He could face Disobedience to Persons of Authority and quarantine protocol violation charges. — DVM, GMA News