DILG’s Año warns: Face mask violators in Cebu may be arrested by police

Those who will violate the mandatory use of face masks in Cebu may be arrested by the police despite the executive order issued by Governor Gwen Garcia on the optional wearing of face masks in well-ventilated and open spaces in the province, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

In a radio interview, Año reiterated that the mandatory wearing of face masks will still be implemented by the national government amid the COVID-19 pandemic, thus law enforcers will follow suit.

“Ang ating kapulisan, patuloy na magko-confront at kung kailangan arestuhin sa matitigas ang ulo, gagawin ng Philippine National Police ‘yan,” he said.

“Nagko-konsulta tayo sa legal team sa next move natin para matigil ang ganitong practice na hindi naman talaga naaayon,” he added, stressing that the Cebu government has violated the Executive Order No. 151, series of 2021 regarding the Nationwide Implementation of the Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response.

(Our police will continue to confront the violators and if they need to arrest those who really don’t want to follow, then the Philippine National Police will do that. We are consulting with the legal team on our next move to stop this practice which is not really appropriate.) 

The Cebu provincial board earlier passed the ordinance on third and final reading in a special session on Tuesday, following Garcia's issuance of Executive Order No. 16 that wearing of face masks shall be required only in closed and air-conditioned spaces.

Garcia earlier said she does not recognize the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on the mandatory wearing of face masks as the law, claiming that the IATF guidelines “doesn’t carry the force of law, not enacted by Congress, nor is that an  Order signed by the President.”

But this was refuted by Año, saying local government officials may face charges if they violate the orders of the national government.

Cebu is placed by the IATF under Alert Level 2 from June 16 to June 30.

Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70% capacity outdoors. — RSJ, GMA News