By Jennifer P. Rendon
Instead of going downhill, curfew violations have apparently not been tempered in Western Visayas.
At times, Police Colonel Joem Malong said they get frustrated knowing that they have exhausted every means – from soft approach to warning – to prevent the people from loitering the streets during curfew hours.
Malong, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 spokesperson, said they felt that they did not come short of reminding the people on the help they would share in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by simply staying home.
“Tawo na gid may diperensya especially they face criminal cases for violating the curfew,” she said.
Malong said it would be a good move for the local government to formulate an ordinance that would impose sanctions for curfew violations.
As of April 13, PRO-6 has collared almost 5,000 persons.
However, 4,538 persons were counseled and advised to go home.
Fifty-seven violators were fined while 53 were arrested.
Meanwhile, there were 40 persons who were charged for disobedience and 85 persons will face charges during regular filing.
Bacolod City still topped the number of violators who were advised to go home at 1,762 while Iloilo City has 1,185 while Negros Occidental has 1,168.
Other provinces – Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, and Guimaras – pale in number of violators with less than 200.
Malong also agreed to the observation that people become edgy as the enhanced community quarantine drags on.
People becomes restless because they cannot stand being holed up in one place for too long.
“We also acknowledged that possibility but each one of us should do our share to help. In the case of our people, we only appeal for them to stay home,” Malong said.
