Hontiveros seeks probe on QC task force head's 'shoot to kill' remark for MECQ violators

Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought a Senate investigation on the "shoot to kill" remark of a Quezon City task force head for the implementation of quarantine protocols.

In filing Senate Resolution 489, Hontiveros cited Quezon City Task Force Disiplina head Ranulfo "Rannie" Ludovica's now-deleted social media post which stated "Mula bukas, shoot to kill na ang lalabag sa MECQ."

"Bakit pagpatay ang sagot sa isang health crisis? Our people are already suffering, and statements like that do not inspire confidence in our local leaders," Hontiveros said in a statement on Wednesday.

She also urged the local government to replace Ludovica "with someone who can actually help save, not harm, local residents."

READ: Sen. Risa Hontiveros seeks Senate probe on QC Task Force Disiplina’s implementation of quarantine protocols after “shoot to kill” remark of head Rannie Ludovica, as well as other cases relating to abusive conduct of local gov’t officias. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/rgJ6BBKwlg

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) August 5, 2020

The resolution also aims to probe other alleged cases of abuse, violence and illegal acts by local officials during enforcement of restrictions linked to COVID-19.

"Hindi ito ang unang beses na may ganitong pang-aabuso at karahasan mula sa ilang local government officials habang nagpapatupad ng quarantine rules. In Metro Manila and other areas where community quarantine have been imposed, there have been too many cases of human rights abuse and other illegal acts which we need to stop," Hontiveros said.

She reminded the local implementers of quarantine protocols that the enemy is the virus, not the people.

Asked for his side, Ludovica refused to comment on the move of Hontiveros.

"Wait ko na lang ang approval ng reso(lution), saka ako mag-comment,” he told GMA News Online.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte already condemned Ludovica's shoot to kill threat as she stressed that it was posted in the latter's personal Facebook account, not of the local government.

"Ito po ay hindi sumasalamin sa mga polisiya, sa mga prinsipyo ng Pamahalaang Lungsod Quezon," she said.

Ludovica, for his part, explained that he was just dismayed that Metro Manila reverted to MECQ.

"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," he added.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government also condemned the local task force head's remark.

The Philippine National Police likewise said there was no shoot to kill policy against quarantine violators.—Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA News