At least 20 residents here have been apprehended by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) for violating the curfew hours – from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. – being enforced as a precautionary measure against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, public information officer of BCPO, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday the figure is based only on the operations conducted by the police, and there could be more violators recorded in the barangays.
“Despite the information campaign we conducted, there are still those who don’t follow the order on general community quarantine. They even wait until the curfew starts before going home,” he said.
Pico, who also heads the Community Affairs and Development Section, appealed to residents of Bacolod to adhere to the quarantine rules by staying at home and follow social distancing when interacting with people.
Moreover, Pico said police officers warn curfew violators on the first offense, but on the second time they refuse to heed the warning, they will be arrested and detained.
The curfew took effect on Tuesday as stated in Executive Order No. 22 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, placing Bacolod under a general community quarantine starting March 15.
“These restricted hours shall require any person to already have returned to his or her home and to stay thereat until the lapse of restriction,” the order stated.
The order also asked parents and guardians to take proper responsibility for their minor children or wards in observing the curfew.
“Any person failing or refusing to observe this curfew measure will be dealt with properly by the Philippine National Police as regards the inimical act committed in violation of public order,” it added.
Those exempted from curfew measures are medical personnel and persons needing emergency medical help; night-shift workers at pharmacies and drug stores; security guards; business process outsourcing workers; public utility emergency personnel; firefighters and other disaster relief personnel; priests and ministers performing last sacrament or last rites; and public utility vehicle drivers servicing all of the above. (Nanette Guadalquiver NDB VIA PNA)