Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla warned of imposing a martial-law-like lockdown if residents of the province will not stop violating the enhanced community quarantine.
In the meantime, Remulla has asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to implement an enhanced quarantine community in their area as more and more people are not following the police.
“Hinihigpitan lang namin nang mas kaunti. Wala naman hinahampas diyan, wala naman sinasaktan,” said Remulla.
(We became a bit stricter. No one is hitting or hurting anyone.)
But if the violations persist, it is not unlikely to have a martial-law-like lockdown in Cavite.
“Kung matigas pa rin ang ulo nila, kung ayaw pa rin madala, hihigpitan ko pa lalo, mala-martial law,” he said.
(If they are still stubborn, if they don’t learn their lesson, I will be stricter, like martial law.)
Major Arvin Nuñez, the officer in charge of the 730th Combat Group of the Philippine Air Force, assured that people should not be afraid because they respect human rights.
He also said the Philippine Marines, which Remulla had requested, is on its way for deployment the province.
On Tuesday, the 730th Combat Group also came to Trece Martires City to assist police in implementing the enhanced quarantine community.
The police arrested more than 200 residents on Tuesday in Trece Martires for violations such as leaving the house without a quarantine pass and using a quarantine pass that was not theirs.
After giving them a sermon, authorities sent the violators home. But if they were arrested again, they would be jailed for one day and charged.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cavite is 134.
Also read: Cavite governor Remulla: relief funds could last for only 2 weeks
“Martial-law-like” means arrest without warning- PNP chief
PNP chief Gen Archie Gamboa said that in case of “Martial-law-like” implementation of ECQ, it would mean no warning before an arrest is made.
President Rodrigo Duterte warned last week that he might be forced to impose the “martial law-like” ECQ if the violations persist.
Gamboa further explained that of the 130,000 violators the PNP recorded, around 96,000 were simply warned and were not arrested.
PNP data showed that there are about 133,000 quarantine violators from March 17 to April 19.