THE PNP provincial office expressed support to the call of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to ease curfew rules in the province for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during the Question Hour of the SP on Monday, P/Colonel Redrico Maranan, provincial director, said while he agrees that the curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. needs to be eased, he reminded the board members that the curfew helped reduce crimes.

“We should never seek to lift curfew because based on the records of the PNP, crimes usually occur in the streets under the cover of darkness,” Maranan said.

Responding to the question posed by Fourth District Board Member Agerico Jeremy Rosario, Maranan confirmed that, indeed, there are many appealing for the relaxation of curfew but not the total lifting because it helped reduce crimes.

Maranan suggested those who need to work late, including those below 21 years old and senior citizens, can be exempted; all others should be covered by the curfew.

He, however, added that he leaves it to the SP to craft the implementing rules.

Maranan told the SP that the police already arrested a number of curfew violators, those who violated social distancing and those who were caught not wearing face masks.

He said that all violators were charged in court for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code that imposes imprisonment to violators.

He told Board Member Orange Humilde-Verzosa that in filing these cases, the police did not cite the curfew ordinance enacted by the SP that only imposes fines and no penal provision because the curfew violators needed to be taught a lesson. (Leonardo Micua)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments