BULACAN police have arrested former Rep. Ariel Casilao and six members of the Anakpawis party-list group for violation of quarantine measures.
The six party-list members were arrested Sunday morning when they attempted to pass through a quarantine control point (QCP) in Barangay Bigte in Norzagaray at around 11 a.m.
Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia said the group was aboard a passenger jeepney (ZNH-869) when they were stopped by members of the Norzagaray municipal police station.
Upon questioning, the six claimed they were on their way to deliver food packs to their members and sympathizers on Kalye 11 in Barangay Bigte but could not present documents to show they were authorized to travel, in violation of the quarantine policy.
In a statement, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac identified the Anakpawis members as Karl Mae San Juan, 29; Marlon Lester Gueta, 26; Robero Medel, 52; Eriberto Pena Jr., 60; Raymar Guaves, 21; and Tobi Estrada, 22.
Casilao was arrested hours later when he arrived in Norzagaray to intercede on behalf of his colleagues. He allegedly introduced himself to be still a party-list representative.
Sermonia said an inspection of the jeepney showed that aside from food packs, the Anakpawis members also carried with them anti-government flyers and other printed materials and tarpaulins bearing anti-government slogans “that promote the political ideology of Anakpawis, the electoral wing of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.”
The food packs were turned over to officials of Barangay Bigte while the Anakpawis members were brought to the police station where appropriate charges were prepared against them.
Police said Casilao, who was a member of the 17th Congress until June 2019, will be charged with a separate case of usurpation of authority as he misrepresented himself to be still a member of Congress when he interceded.
PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa condemned what he said was the wanton disregard for public health protocols of the Anakpawis group.
“It is a matter of life or death that we need to make this quarantine work, but incidents of quarantine violation like this makes containment efforts against the virus less effective and detrimental to public health,” Gamboa said.
Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said: “Breaking the quarantine rules is breaking the law. Let us not be stubborn. You are only allowed to go out of (your) residence to buy food, medicines or for medical emergencies.”
During the “Laging Handa” press briefing, Malaya disputed claims of the Anakpawis members that they were merely on relief operation.
Malaya noted that if they were indeed out for relief mission, they did not coordinate their efforts with their recipient local government unit, with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, or the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
Malaya also noted the fact that policemen recovered from the suspects propaganda materials.
Malaya lashed at the group for using a food pass, which he said is supposed to be used only when transporting goods from farms to markets. “They are not transporting goods from the farm to the market so why did they use a food pass? Again, that’s illegal, unauthorized use of the food pass,” he said.
EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it will intensify its campaign against ECQ violators inside gated villages, condominium buildings and other exclusive communities in Metro Manila.
NCRPO Director Debold Sinas ordered all police districts to coordinate with local government units in the implementation of ECQ protocols in exclusive communities.
The directive came after BGC Taguig City police community precinct commander, Maj. Joseph Austria, received a phone call from the Office of the City Mayor regarding a complaint of an alleged violation of the ECQ guideline inside the Avida Towers, Serendra and Pacific Plaza buildings.
The complaint said the public amenities of the three establishments allegedly continue to operate, such as its pools, and residents were not wearing face masks when going out, and social distancing is not observed in common areas.
“The policemen are merely acting on the complaint from the City Hall. The violators are not excused nor exempted from the national directive to use face masks, observe social distancing and the like. Being law-enforcers, we are merely implementing the directives because as we all know, that is a common area and we are putting the life of the people inside that community at risk,” Sinas said.
The BGC police station 7 is now investigating the complaint. — With Victor Reyes and Noel Talacay
