Unvaccinated following directive to stay home —DILG

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said unvaccinated individuals have been following the government's order to stay indoors amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

"Sa ngayon naman po ay nakikita natin ang pagsunod ng ating mga kababayan," Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the People on Monday night.

Although more people were caught not wearing face masks, Año said there were fewer instances of mass gatherings and violations of physical distancing.

Out of the 45,234 face mask violators, 32,559 were warned; 6,030 were fined; 3,300 went to community service; 165 were subjected to inquest; and 3,180 were for regular filing.

All 108 violators of mass gatherings were warned.

Meanwhile, out of the 19,423 violators of physical distancing, 17,985 were warned; 329 were fined; 903 went to community service; and 206 were arrested.

Last week, Duterte ordered barangay officials to direct persons yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to stay at home amid the steep spike in cases believed driven by the Omicron variant.

He said barangay chairpersons could arrest unvaccinated persons if they refused to cooperate.

The Commission on Human Rights said arresting unvaccinated individuals may be illegal and could violate human rights.

Año earlier clarified that those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 who will go out will only be asked by barangay officials to return to their homes and will not be arrested if they comply accordingly.

He said arresting unvaccinated individuals who insist on going out would only be a "last resort" and would be conducted “within the bounds of the law.”

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said unvaccinated persons who leave their homes without a valid reason under the ordinances of their local government units will only be arrested if they resist or fight with the persons in authority.

The Metro Manila Council has approved that unvaccinated residents in Metro Manila will be ordered to stay at home unless they are buying and accessing essential goods and services while the National Capital Region is under Alert Level 3.

The Philippines on Monday registered all-time high new COVID-19 infections with 33,169, raising the Philippines' total caseload to 2,998,530.—LDF, GMA News