Duterte: Arrest barangay captains who allow mass gatherings

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night ordered the arrest of barangay chairpersons who fail to enforce the ban on parties, picnics, and other mass gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In his weekly briefing on COVID-19 response, Duterte said barangay chairs would be liable for dereliction of duty under the Revised Penal Code if they failed to prevent the gatherings in their respective jurisdictions.

Duterte gave the order to the Philippine National Police and all law enforcement agencies after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported the recent incidents of mass gatherings including picnics and parties.

"Kapag may isa pa, beginning tonight, ang unang hulihin ang barangay captain," Duterte said.

[Beginning tonight, if there's one more, the barangay captain will be the first to be arrested.]

"I'm ordering the police to arrest barangay captain and bring him to the station and investigate him for being a derelict, dereliction of duty for having failed to enforce the law," he added.

Duterte expressed frustration over the continued mass gatherings amid the ongoing pandemic.

"It’s criminal for you to get COVID and pass it on to another person," Duterte said.

"Pakulong ko kayo, I will look for a suitable law because you are forcing my hand. Ayaw ninyo, pasaway, e. 'Yan ang problema ko sa Filipino," he added.

[I will have you jailed... Stubborn. That's my problem with Filipinos.]

"Much as you'd like to reduce the COVID cases, e kung ganoon ang ginagawa ninyo walang katapusan itong p— ina ito kasi lahat kayo nagkahawaan na naman," he added.

[Much as you'd like to reduce the COVID cases, if you are doing these things, there would be no end to this son of a bitch because you've again transmitted the disease.]

The gathering of scores of people at a Caloocan City resort, a pool party in Quezon City, and other incidents of mass gatherings have recently spawned new cases of COVID-19.

"Napipilitan ako. Magtrabaho kayo if you really are worth your status there. Kung ayaw ninyo, umalis kayo," Duterte said.

Use reasonable force

Duterte also ordered police to "use reasonable force" if the COVID-19 violator resisted arrest.

"Don't be afraid use and use force ito ah, use reasonable force. Kung ayaw makipagsuntukan, paluin mo kamay o paluin ang paa para sumunod sa 'yo," Duterte said.

"You can do that because you must overcome. Ikaw, ang police, must overcome. That's why you are allowed to use reasonable force if there is resistance to arrest," he further said.

He also vowed to defend police in case complaints are filed against the uniformed personnel over using reasonable force on violators.

"Ako na mismo mag intervene if you are charged, tapos ganoon ang nangyari, ako na mismo, ako na ang papalag," Duterte said.

"Ayaw ko yung police ma-pressure dahil nagtatrabaho kasi kung ginagawa ninyo tapos ang pulis magka-kaso for doing his duty, ibang storya na yan. Hindi na story ng human rights. It's better human rights must study their law also," Duterte added.  —Consuelo Marquiez/NB/BAP, GMA News