By Jennifer P. Rendon
Village watchmen arrested a 58-year-old for allegedly going out of their home without bringing his quarantine pass and for not wearing a face mask.
Basilio Guillen, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Carles, Iloilo was collared in a checkpoint set up by officials of Barangay Cabilao Grande, Carles at around 2:30 p.m. of April 4, 2020.
Police accounts said Guillen was driving his motorcycle when he was flagged down by village officials, tanod, and members of Kabayan Action Group.
Tanod members asked for a community quarantine pass but he could not present any.
He also failed to wear a face mask, a violation of Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-225 which requires the use of facemasks in all public places during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Violators will be reprimanded for the first offense. A P1,000 fine will be meted for the second offense and P2,000 or imprisonment of ten days, or both at the discretion of the court, for the third and succeeding offenses.
Police Captain Francis Albert Fortunado, Carles police chief, said Guillen’s alleged arrogance, on top of being recidivist, prompted village officials to sue him.
The suspect used to drive to Cabilao Grande to look for his farm animals. There were also complaints from Barangay Barusbos for his failure to present a community quarantine pass and lack of facemask.
Fortunado said that Guillen was already warned on April 1 for the same offenses. He even appeared at the police station following complaints from barangay officials.
“He usually told village officials that he forgot to bring his pass. He also claimed not to wear a face mask because it made him uncomfortable. Daw indi sya kuno ka-ginhawa,” Fortunado said.
The suspect is now under the custody of Carles Police Station and will be charged for violating PO No. 220-225.
He might also be slapped with a case for Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority (Article 151) of the Revised Penal Code (punishable by a fine not exceeding P100, 000.00 and imprisonment of up to 6 months).