BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office 6 reported yesterday that 123,948 health protocol violators in Western Visayas have been arrested from August last year to March 16 this year.
Of the violators, 34,276 were arrested for not wearing face shields; 49,021 failed to wear face masks, 2,346 failed to present Barangay Quarantine Pass; 811 for mass gathering violation; 35,287 for not observing social distancing; 1,797 were caught violating quarantine protocols; 173 violated RA 11332 or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act”; and 237 for violations of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for disobedience to a person in authority.
Lt. Col. Joem Malong, PRO 6 spokesperson, said that 25,565 of the 123,948 violators had been fined, while 98,039 were warned, and 344 were turned over to their respective barangay officials.
In the months within the period of reporting, Malong reported that February had the greatest number of violators, reaching 20,021.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Police Office recorded the highest number of violators with 36,240.
PBrig. Gen.Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police director, reiterated his instructions to strictly implement the protocols.
“It’s been a year, so people should get used to following these simple protocols.” Miranda said, as he vowed to strictly implement the protocols, based on the guidelines set by local government units.*