Davao City: Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio called barangay functionaries to be fair and humane in treating curfew hour violators in this time of the pandemic.
She issued the statement following the reported alleged excesses of some functionaries in Barangay San Antonio, Agdao, in penalizing eight curfe violators by swimming in the canal last Saturday evening.
Duterte-Carpio cited the important role of the barangay government in enacting laws and implementing them during the time of pandemic to discipline the citizenry not to crowd themselves.
“It is provided in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases guidelines to penalize curfew violators but in a fair and humane manner,” she said.
She said requiring eight violators of curfew to swim in the canal is unlawful.
Duterte-Carpio stressed that the curfew hour is implemented to limit the activities for people to gather.
She underscored that the more there is human interaction, the greater the possibility of the COVID-19 infection transmission.
Duterte-Carpio said there is a need to limit the movement of people in terms of entertainment, amusement and leisure.
“It is clear that the public lacks the understanding on the importance of these control mechanisms. These violations made some barangay officials angry. Kabalo ka na gani nga naay curfew, nganong naga-violate pa man ka,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio said cleaning that canal is humane but swimming in it is a malpractice.
She called the attention of the barangay functionaries behind the incident, because based on the IATF Section Eight of the Omnibus guidelines, local government units may institute curfew during the time of the pandemic in a fair and humane manner. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
