REDUCES PNP TO A PUNCHLINE

Ban on public displays of affection senseless, absurd –lawmakers

Several lawmakers on Friday criticized the Philippine National Police's (PNP's) request that the public avoids displaying "physical, social and romantic relationships" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Joel Villanueva said that a ban on public displays of affection (PDA) did not make any sense since those kinds of physical contact could no longer be restricted when people were in private places like their homes.

"What can I say? I think the PNP should not shoot from the hip when it comes to COVID protocols. Every time a high official makes an outrageous statement, the entire force is reduced into a punchline. Unang-una, bawal sa publiko pero sa pribado puwede," Villanueva said at a virtual presser.

"'Yung kanta na puwedeng magkasuyo buong gabi, masaya't magkatabi, magkayakap sa buong magdamag, pero no touch pagdating sa labas? Parang ang labo naman yata noon," he added.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana had said that amid the rising number of COVID-19 infections, the public "should maintain being cautious from the spread of the virus."

PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles, for his part, said it was absurd for the police to prioritize this measure instead of focusing on cleansing their ranks of erring officers.

Nograles said barangay officials and security guards are already reminding the public about social distancing when in public places.

"Physical distancing is a collective effort in the fight against the virus but the men and women of the PNP have bigger fish to fry. The top brass should review their priorities,” Nograles said in a separate statement.

“What is happening with our PNP? There are more immediate and pressing matters other than running after couples. The security guards and the barangay tanods are already actively reminding people of physical distancing,” he added.

On the other hand, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas branded the PDA ban as a "stupid policy."

She claimed that this was only an attempt by the police to divert the public's attention from the killings in the country, including the deaths of nine activists during police operations in Calabarzon.

"This desperate attempt to divert the public's attention from the bloody state-perpetrated massacre against activists in Southern Luzon is not going to work, especially now that more Filipinos, and even the international community, are becoming aware of the state's machinations to silence dissent," Brosas said. — DVM, GMA News