By Jennifer P. Rendon
More than a month into the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), some residents of Iloilo still defy quarantine guidelines.
On April 28, 2020, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) conducted a one-time big-time (OTBT) operation against violators of executive orders relative to the ECQ which was meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police chief, said the operations ensured compliance with the mandatory wearing of face mask, social distancing, liquor ban, and curfew.
Lucas noted that more than half, or 565 of the 959 persons, were collared for not wearing face masks.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo passed Ordinance No. 2020-225 requiring the use of face masks in all public places in the province during the ECQ implementation.
Lambunao town topped the number of arrests with 51 while Estancia had 49.
Passi City has 29; Pavia with 28; Mina with 27; Maasin with 26; Igbaras with 25; Batad with 22; and Miag-ao with 27.
Lambunao accounted for seven of the 20 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirmed cases in the province.
The latest was a 33-year-old female who was the seventh case in the town and was Western Visayas’ Patient No. 58.
Lambunao’s first COVID-19 case was a 70-year-old male who died days after he was confined in a hospital in Iloilo City. Five other family members also contracted the disease.
Meanwhile, Lucas said that 256 persons were arrested for non-observance of social distancing in offices and establishments, a violation of Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-224.
The ordinance penalizes either erring customers and erring establishments/offices and their officials.
Passi City topped Lambunao with 68 arrests while the latter town logged 48.
Police also arrested 94 unauthorized persons outside of residence (UPOR).
“We have a list of persons who are authorized to go out of their residence during the ECQ. If they are not on the list, then they are considered as UPOR,” Lucas said.
Fifty-nine were apprehended in Calinog, 15 in Estancia, nine in San Joaquin, seven in Janiuay, and two each in Pavia and Sta. Barbara.
The IPPO arrested one person for violating the liquor ban in Estancia.
For curfew, 15 persons were arrested. Again, Estancia had eight arrests, four in Calinog, and three in Dumangas.
Twenty-six persons were arrested for going out of their residence without quarantine passes while two were arrested for loitering.
Lucas said the 959 individuals were fined 1,000 each.
He also assured that the police are prepared for the extension of the ECQ until May 15.
