Poe laments cruelty, violence on ordinary Filipinos amid COVID-19 pandemic

Senator Grace Poe has expressed alarm over acts of cruelty and violence that ordinary Filipinos experience amid the continuous threat of COVID-19 in the country.

In a statement, Poe lamented the death of a curfew violator in Laguna after he was allegedly beaten up by village watchmen.

The senator said the plight of ordinary Filipinos amid the pandemic should not be aggravated by cruelty and violence of authorities on ground.

“How can they afford to torture to death their already helpless constituent amid the hunger, poverty, and hopelessness gripping our communities?” she said.

“The perpetrators of these acts of violence must face the full force and severity of the law,” Poe emphasized, adding that their immediate superiors must also be held accountable under the principle of command responsibility.

Apart from this incident, another curfew violator in Cavite, Darren Peñaredondo, also died after being made to do 300 pumping squats as punishment.

Poe maintained that the sufferings of the ordinary citizens "should not be further scorned by the harsh and ignominious blows from supposed ‘community protectors."

“Those who wield such undue use of force and authority must receive the corresponding full weight of the penalties of our laws,” she said.

“The people have taken more than enough beating from the ravaging pandemic. They don’t deserve any more bludgeoning from any arm of the government,” she added.

The Philippine National Police said the village watchmen who allegedly beat the curfew violator in Laguna to death will face homicide complaints.

Meanwhile, Peñaredondo's family is considering filing complaints against the police over his death.

Peñaredondo succumbed to stroke and a heart condition, according to his death certificate.

General Trias City, Cavite Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlo Solero has already been relieved from his post in connection with Peñaredondo's death.—AOL, GMA News