35 nabbed in San Juan for violating home quarantine

Thirty-five residents of Barangay West Crame in San Juan City were made to undergo a seminar by police and barangay officials on Wednesday for violating the strict home quarantine.

According to a 24 Oras report by Emil Sumangil, 33 of the residents were male while two were female.

San Juan Police brought them to the barangay hall where they were given a seminar underscoring the importance of home quarantine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“For a week now, talagang nag-conduct na kami ng katakot-takot na announcement para do’n sa mga tao na kung wala naman gagawin, sa loob na lang ng bahay. Ang problema, pinagtatawanan kami rito,” San Juan Police chief Police Colonel Jaime Santos said.

While the 35 individuals were eventually released since they were only on their first warning, Santos said they will continue to tirelessly enforce the home quarantine.

“We will be doing this with an iron fist... Lahat ng nasa labas na hindi nila kayang ipaliwanag kung bakit sila nasa labas ng bahay nila ay inimbitahan lahat ng personal sa barangay,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier confirmed that a resident of West Crame had tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, other areas in San Juan that are usually bustling have become ghost towns since the quarantine was declared.

There were very few people and vehicles spotted at the often-busy areas of Pinaglabanan Shrine, Ortigas Avenue, and Greenhills Shopping Center.

Santos also said that the crime rate in San Juan has been zero since Saturday.

The entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine until April 13. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News