After the expiration of the Bayanihan Act, are violations of quarantine protocols valid basis for arrests?

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act may have expired last June 25, 2020 but there are other laws that can be used as basis for arrests.

On the expiration of the Bayanihan Act, Senator Franklin Drilon earlier said, "Hindi na pwedeng manghuli dahil sa fake news, hindi na pwedeng manghuli dahil sa lumabag sa curfew. Hindi na pwedeng manghuli ang police dahilan sa prohibition against mass gathering. Iyan ay hindi na pwedeng gamitin dahil nag-expire na ang batas."

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was enacted giving President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to address the issue on the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

However, after the law has expired, the query raised is whether violators of quarantine protocols can still be arrested.

The basis of the police in arresting those who attended the Pride March and those at a bar in Makati City were provisions under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or R.A. 11332 or the law on reporting of communicable diseases. 

The law is earmarked for the collection and study of data that will be the basis for health practices aimed to curtail of the spread of COVID-19.

The mass gathering was not a violation of R.A. 11332, even if it is still in effect at this time.

Atty. Galileo Angeles, Criminal and Litigation Lawyer, explains," Kung susuruin mo, wala talagang partikular na, “ikaw ay mag-social distancing ka, ‘wag ka dapat lumapit sakin na ikaw ay na malapit sa tatlong metro, isang metro.” Wala tayong makikitang ganyan sa Bayanihan Act kung hindi ito ay binibigay sa ating mga LGU ang karapatan na sila ay magsagawa ng kanya-kanyang ordinasa para ipatupad yong national policy natin, one of which is yung ating social distancing."

Angeles added that, "Hindi angkop yung ating batas diyan kasi doon sa ating Republic Act 11332, ang sinasabi lang dito.. ang pag-uutos na ito ay binibigay doon sa ating mga kababayan na involved sa pagpapatupad ng pagkokolekta ng data, pagsurveillance ng nakahahawang sakit na mayroong national interest. Halimbawa, gaya ng COVID19 na ‘to. Hindi ito ipinapataw sa taong kagaya natin na lumabag tayo sa sinasabing social distancing, di tayo nagka-quarantine, hindi ito ina-apply dito.”

There are two violations according to the law, the first is failure to cooperate or failure to follow rules in reporting.

The second violation is, for a person who may have been infected or sick with a notifiable disease, fails to cooperate and lying about one's condition.

"May obligasyon ka na sabihin ito pero tinatago mo, ay yun lang ang pwede kang parusahan doon," Angeles said.

However, even if the Bayanihan Act has expired there are other laws that can be used as basis for arrests.

"Ngayon June 25 expired na ang bayanihan to heal as one act, pwede pa ba tayong mang-aresto? Pwede pa po. Hindi po yan under sa Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, pero ito pong pag-aaresto ay under na sa ordinansa ng bawat LGU (local government unit)," Angeles explained.

The LGU ordinance that were formulated and implemented based on the Bayanihan Act can still be implemented.

The following is a question and answer format on the procedure under Philippine law for the implementation of arrests or the act of apprehending and taking a person into custody:

What are the instances that warrantless arrests are considered valid?

"Una, kung ikaw ay gagawa ng isang krimen, nakita ng isang pulis o ng isang sibilyan na posibilidad na maaring gawin mo nga ang isang krimen. Pangalawa, kung ginagawa mo ang isang krimen during the time na ginagawa mo at isinasagawa mo ang isang krimen pupwede kang arestuhin. At ang pangatlo ay kung kagagawa mo lang ng isang krimen o paglabas sa batas," he said.

When are arrests invalid?

"Kung walang warrant of arrrest, invalid ang pag-aresto sa 'yo maliban na lamang kung pumasok ka sa tatlong kategorya. Na gagawa ka, gumagawa at kagagawa mo lang ng isang krimen," he said.

"Kapag hindi ka pumasok doon sa ganoong kategorya, hindi ka nila pwedeng arestuhin. At ang sino man, maging pulis o sibilyan na magtatangka na umaresto sa iyo, sila ay mahaharap sa isang illegal arrest," he added.

How does one determine whether or not one's rights are protected after being arrested?

"Kung saan ka inaresto, kailangan doon din bigyan ka ng mga paalala ng ating mga arresting officers. Sasabihin sa 'yo bakit ka inaaresto, ano yung ginawa mong krimen, pangalawa, ipapaalala sayo na ikaw ay may karapatang manahimik at hindi magsabi o magbigay ng kahit anong impormasyon. At pangatlo, ikaw ay paalalahanan na ikaw ay may karapatang kumuha ng abogado at ang abogado mo ang magrerepresent sayo. Ito yung mga tinatawag nilang MIranda Doctrines," explained Angeles.

If the conditions of an arrest is not followed, can one refuse from being arrested?

"Basta po inaresto kayo ay kailangan kayong sumama," said Angeles.

"Pero, kung hindi naibigay yung inyong Miranda rights at hindi kayo napaalalahanan hindi naman po sinasabi na bawal kaagad ang pagka arrest, pero ito ay isa pong administratibo. Makakaapekto po ito doon sa kaso na ifa-file sa inyo sapagkat na-violate niya yung inyong Bill of Rights."

How long can one be detained?

"Dapat po kayo ay madala sa isang fiscal o isang judge between 12,18 and 36 hours. Kung hindi po, kailangan kayong pauwiin na ng ating mga arresting officers," the lawyer said.

Can the persons arrested undergo a punishment right away?

"As a matter of fact, bawal nga po 'yung ganoon na 'pag nahuli kayo, pagpupush-up-in kayo o kaya pagwawalisin kayo. Kung wala naman pong batayan yan na ordinansa o batas ay hindi po valid. Hindi po tama 'yun," he replied.