MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Thursday said it will pursue the filing of charges against 21 individuals who were arrested for staging a rally to demand aid amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
The QCPD said the residents violated the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the law on Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Health Events of Public Concern, Presidential Proclamation No. 922, and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for disobedience to persons in authority.
The QCPD said the 21 individuals will undergo inquest proceedings online on Friday.
“Sa ngayon po, ipa-file po natin ‘yung kaso laban sa kanila,” QCPD Spokesperson Police Lieutenant Johanna Sazon said.
The arrested individuals, who are residents of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, were apparently part of dozens of protesters who formed a barricade along EDSA service road on Wednesday afternoon to appeal for assistance from the local government.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte earlier appealed to release the residents for humanitarian reasons.
But she assured she will abide by President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive not to tolerate any acts that are in violation of the law, especially amid the COVID-19 quarantine.
“I made an appeal for their release only for humanitarian reasons yesterday and this was duly noted but denied, and it is not my place to obstruct justice. I was told they were in clear violation of Republic Act #11469 otherwise known as the Bayanihan Heal As One Act,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“The directive of the President in his statement last night was very clear that acts such as those they allegedly committed will not be tolerated and therefore, I fully abide,” she added.
The mayor earlier assured her constituents that there is a continuous distribution of relief packs.
Authorities also appealed for the public’s patience and understanding over the delayed movement of relief assistance
