Sagay City sets up ‘funeral vigil’ for curfew violators

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The city government of Sagay in Negros Occidental urged residents to stay at home or they will be made to hold a vigil in front of a “coffin” at the gymnasium in Barangay 1.

Police Major Antonio Benitez, city police chief, said that more than 100 individuals were arrested since April 1 for violating the 24-hour curfew in relation to the province-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Benitez said that most of the violators left their houses without quarantine passes.

These violators were brought to the gymnasium, where they said prayers before a coffin for 12 hours as part of the reglementary detention, he added.

He said that they placed a coffin at the gym to make the people understand that COVID-19 can be fatal.

“If they don’t stay at home, they might get infected and worst they can also die or infect others,” he added.

After 12 hours, the violators were sent home, he said.

“This is to encourage the people to stay at home and help prevent the spread of the infectious disease,” he stressed.

He said that the number of violators was reduced as days go by due to their preventive measures.