PNP chief Eleazar tells police not to shame, hurt protocol violators

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar has told police authorities to stop shaming and hurting individuals who are apprehended for violating face mask protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pag dinala sa police station or sa holding area, ‘wag niyong ikukulong, ‘wag sasaktan, ‘wag paparusahan, at ‘wag hihiyain,” Eleazar said on The Mangahas Interviews.

(When you bring them to the police station or at the holding area, don’t lock them up, don’t hurt them, don’t punish them, and don’t shame them.)

Police officers have drawn flak after a some individuals who allegedly violated a face mask ordinance were made to march on the streets of Silay.

A quarantine violator in General Trias in Cavite has also died after allegedly being forced to do around 300 rounds of a pumping exercise.

“At kung anong applicable na provision ng ordinansa na nandoon, ‘yun ang inyong ipataw at bago dumating ang 12 hours pauwiin niyo na sila,” he said.

(And they should charge whatever ordinance is applicable and once 12 hours has passed, the violators should be sent home.)

Eleazar also told police forces to refrain from arresting individuals if there are no holding cells available that will allow them to practice social distancing measures.

“[O]n our case, sinabi ko sa ating mga unit commanders on the ground na bago kayo manghuli, siguraduhin na meron kayong paglalagyan na hindi sila mag didikit-dikit,” he said.

(On our case, I told our unit commanders that before they arrest someone, they should make sure that they have a holding cell to put them in.)

He added that they may coordinate with the local government and barangay officials for a holding area to distribute the violators.

The PNP chief also appealed to the public to follow health protocols, stressing that the pandemic has been going on for a year.

“That’s why we’re appealing to the sense of maturity and unity ng ating mga kababayan. Sumonod kayo dahil ito ang tamang gawin, hindi dahil huhulihin ko kayo kung kayo ay lalabag ito,” he said.

(That’s why we’re appealing to the sense of maturity and unity ng ating mga kababayan. You should follow because it’s the right thing to do, not because you will be arrested if you violate.)

Drug war transparency

When questioned about the exact death toll of the administration’s war against drugs, Eleazar said they are looking to increase transparency.

“In our case, kaya nga gusto natin mangyari diyan is lalo pang magkaroon ng transparency at palakasin pa nga ‘yan. Hindi kami mag to-tolerate kung ano man,” he said.

(In our case, what we want to do is to increase transparency. We won't tolerate violations.)

“Maaring hindi namin alam nangyayari sa lahat ng pangyayari. Pero with the supervision of all the commanders, eh dapat responsibility niyo ‘yan. At kapag may nangyari diyan na mali ay puwede rin kayo managot,” he later added.

(Although we may not know everything. But with the supervision of all commanders, they will have to take responsibility.)

The PNP chief said that it was “high time” to use body cameras.

Eleazar previously said the PNP  was "very much ready" to use body cameras in police operations and is just awaiting protocols to be established. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News