Duterte orders police to guard COVID-19 quarantine hotels

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday ordered law enforcers to guard hotels serving as quarantines for returning Filipinos following the viral report of a woman who  skipped quarantine after arriving from the United States.

In his Talk to the people, Duterte claimed that hotel personnel cannot "physically stop" those insisting to escape quarantine, adding that only the police or designated government personnel have the authority to enforce quarantine.

"They cannot be physically stopped, they do not have authority or power. Ang makapaghinto sa kanila government personnel placed in there in hotel to work in the matter of placing people under quarantine," Duterte said.

"It has to be a government personnel or employee. Ngayon, what I proposed for government to do who have yet to see this is Secretary Año... Sir, kaya mo maglagay ng pulis sa mga hotels na ginagamit ng quarantine ng gobyerno?" Duterte added, referring to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

Duterte also asked that at least two policemen to guard the quarantine hotel.

In response, Año said he already ordered Philippine National Police Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos regarding the augmentation of police at hotels.

At one point, Duterte also said the hotel employees do not have any "legal position" to stop a person from leaving the quarantine.

"Itong hotel employees for owners for that matter they cannot be in any position legally in stopping a person in doing these things," Duterte said.

"Wala kang delegation of authority. It will be a questionable issue ang mangyari ang pulis. I thank Secretary Año for moving forward," he added.

Duterte asked for an expert opinion from Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra regarding hotel employees' lack of authority to prevent quarantine absentees.

Guevarra said quarantine hotel personnel haf the duty to ensure people were following quarantine under the  implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 11332  or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

"With all due respect, I can see something in existing law republic act 11332  or Mandatory of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act with its IRR, Mr. president, there is a provision there on non-cooperation as part of prohibited acts," Guevarra told Duterte.

"It seems to me non-cooperation on the part of certain entities which are charged with duty to respond to pandemic may also be punishable. These entities may include establishments which are charged with a duty for example as a quarantine hotel to ensure people in the quarantine in an establishment should not be able to jump quarantine i think that could be used," he added.

While Duterte agreed with Guevarra, the Chief Executive insisted that quarantine hotel personnel did not have the physical capacity to bar those violating quarantine protocols.

"The delegated power is not very clear that they (hotel) cannot stop or bar or prohibit medyo kulang ang batas," Duterte said.

Guevarra agreed the hotel personnel did not have the "coercive power" to stop quarantine skippers.

"Wala silang coercive power to stop pero they can report violation yung occupant," Guevarra said.

With this, Duterte pushed his directive to place policemen in hotels to prevent quarantine absentee modus.

"That's why police na lang so yung iba, I hope this is nationwide. This short discussion is really to make things very clear. Ang pulis na lang because I don't think kapag pumilit talaga if they (quarantine violator) force their way of getting out magkakaroon ng ruckus. Lalo na itong mga babae makipagaway yan,"  said Duterte. —LDF/NB, GMA News