On April 2, a footage was uploaded on Reddit showing police in camouflage uniform inside what appears to be a police precinct beating up quarantine violators, that supposedly happened in the province of Pangasinan.
According to the footage, the offenders were caught under the influence of alcohol which caused their arrest by the patrolling police in the province.
The footage was uploaded to Youtube.
The police probed the offenders and made them chose whether they will drink overnight or be detained.
“Gusto ninyong subukan ang nasa presinto ha,” the police added. He even told the offenders that he will be “sponsoring” alcohol to them.
Some parts of the video clip exposed where the arrested individuals were scolded, slapped, and punched in the body.
“Hindi ninyo alam ang kinahaharap ng Pilipinas ha,” said by the police who hit twice on one of the offenders.
The man was then pushed on the side of the wall and received curses from the police who said, “Tarantado ka, ha.”
The uploader said that the footage was initially posted on Twitter but the family was pressured to take it down.
Netizens, on the other hand, reacted and condemned the violent assault of Pangasinan police, making ponderings as regards President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement in clarification that the country is not under martial law.
One comment in the video said, “No. That is NOT okay. They are very clearly abusing their so-called authority and are acting like mean-spirited bullies. The guy was not fighting back, and he was showing zero aggression to the police.”
“There is zero excuse for this kind of behavior,” another comment said.
Since March 17 to 30, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 39,866 community quarantine curfew violators in Luzon from March 17 to 30.
“Stay home, save lives. Your cooperation is very much important to stop the spread of COVID-19,” it added in the released statement of PNP.
As of today, April 3, Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,018 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which includes 136 fatalities and 52 recoveries.
Just last week, a police official in Manila was caught on video beating ‘quarantine violators.’
Lt. Col. Rey Magdaluyo, chief of the Sta. Cruz police station, hitting with a stick the residents of Muslim Town, Quiapo including a man who was showing a quarantine pass. The officer also cursed at the residents, saying that he will shoot anyone who goes out of their house.
President Rodrigo Duterte earned criticisms following his ‘shoot them dead’ order to resisting quarantine violators.
“Kung gusto ninyo nung barilan, eh ‘di sige. Gusto ninyo ng pukpukan, sige. I will not hesitate. My orders are sa pulis pati military, pati mga barangay na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead. Naintindihan ninyo? Patay,” Duterte said.
In another surprise address on April 3, Duterte explained the ‘mechanics’ of arresting quarantine violators. He said the police must arrest quarantine violators, overcome their resistance if any, quickly bring them to the police car and the police station and there the explanation or alibi can be examined if they are to be released. If the police thinks their lives will be placed in danger, they must act in self defense.
“‘Pag tinignan mo na delikado ang buhay mo, patay, unahan mo na, patayin mo,” said Duterte.
[Ed: We sent questions to the PNP PIO about this incident and followed up on the status of the investigation on Magdaluyo, rape of two women by two policemen in Marikina police station and other cases but they have not replied as of this publishing.]
