Eleazar says social media monitoring targets gov't officials, prominent individuals

Joint Task Force COVID Shield Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar on Monday said government officials and prominent personalities are the target of the cops monitoring social media for quarantine violations.

"Huwag matakot ang ating mga kababayan kasi alam ninyo, ang natatarget dito, in fact, mga prominent individuals and government officials. Bakit? Dahil sila ay madaling maidentify, nagba-viral sila... at the same time, sila kasi dapat ang nangunguna dito kaya wala dapat ikabahala ang ating mga kababayan," Eleazar said at a press briefing.

"In fact, we are empowering our barangay residents na magbigay sa atin ng impormasyon," he added.

Eleazar clarified that police officers will not arrest alleged violators but the social media post will serve as a "basis for further investigation."

"Wala kaming aarestuhin dito. It will serve as a basis for further investigation but first it has to be validated. Possible kasi fake lang 'yan eh. So kung navalidate natin, then we will also get the cooperation of the barangays para imbestigahan natin siya," he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said the measure would instill social responsibility among the public.

"Social responsibility ang sinasabi diyan. Kapag umabuso ka naman hindi naman maganda, hindi ba?" Cascolan said at the same press briefing.

He said the law enforcers will not abuse the measure. 

Over the weekend, the JTF COVID Shield called on police commanders and their personnel to regularly monitor social media for violations of quarantine measures.

Eleazar said netizens have been posting complaints about some violations of minimum health safety standard protocols, including mass gatherings for drinking sessions as well as other forms of celebration despite the pandemic.

He assured the public that policemen would respect the privacy of every individual in monitoring quarantine violations shared online.

Eleazar has said only those viral or public videos and photos would be verified by authorities.—AOL, GMA News