THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has already apprehended nearly 10,000 individuals for violating the community quarantine protocol since it was imposed.
According to DCPO Spokesperson Captain Rose Aguilar, a total of 9,758 quarantine violators were apprehended from March 15 until November 18, and 3,261 cases were already filed at the fiscal’s office.
Based on her breakdown, 2,585 were apprehended for violating the mandatory use of food and medicine (FM) pass; 2,992 curfew violators; 585 for liquor ban; 2,071 violators of physical distancing; 583 for failure to wear face masks in public areas; and 942 individuals apprehended for failure of placing motorcycle barriers while travelling.
Aguilar said the apprehended persons will be released immediately after their personal information has been taken. But this does not mean they are spared from their violation.
“Kuhaon nato ilahang information. Pag-file nato kasagaran is through regular filing. Naa sila atubangon. Muatubang sila sa fiscal. Dad-on ka sa [police] station for investigation, makauli man hinuon ka pero naa kay atubangon nga kaso (We will get their personal information for regular filing in court. They will face the fiscal. But before that, we will bring them to the police station for investigation. We will immediately release them, but they will still face charges),” the police official said in One Davao on Covid-19 virtual presser.
She said in a previous interview that those violators who will be found out to have pre-existing cases will be detained.
Aguilar said, as part of their mandate, they will continue to strictly impose the city’s measure to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Recently, the city reimposed the FM pass and 115 individuals were apprehended on the first day, November 17.
Meanwhile, the DCPO is currently preparing for the implementation of the Safe Davao QR (DQR) code, and they will apprehend individuals who fail to present their QR code to police checkpoints beginning November 23.
Aguilar said they are anticipating the influx of people during that day.
But for now, she said they are already preparing for it.
She added that there is a current influx of people at different police stations in the city who have no valid IDs or birth certificate, which are the requirements for the DQR registration.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a previous interview that if an individual has no ID or birth certificate, he/she can apply for a DQR at their nearest police station.
The police personnel can decline to issue a DQR if upon interview the individual is inconsistent with his answers or he cannot prove that he will use the DQR for essential travel.
