Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles echoed the call of a children’s rights group urging the police and local government units (LGUs) to stop using force against children and youth who are allegedly found violating provisions of the quarantine guidelines now being enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The group, Save the Children Philippines, cited various reports of apprehended children and youth who had been subjected to cruel treatment for violating the quarantine rules.
“The quarantine was implemented in the first place to protect citizens, compassion should be the foremost consideration.”
Among the incidents the group cited were the case of a 13-year-old boy who was repeatedly hit with a baton in Old Balara, Quezon City, and the case of three teenagers in Liliw, Laguna, who were arrested for picking mangoes and were made to re-enact their actions by the police.
“Nananawagan po tayo sa ating mga kapulisan at LGU workers na huwag maging marahas sa pakikitungo sa ating mga kabataan na natagpuang lumabag sa quarantine rules. Hindi po dahas ang lunas sa kahit na anong problema,” said Nograles.
The lawmaker said the quarantine was implemented in the first place to protect citizens, as such, compassion should be the foremost consideration of public safety officers when engaging violators.
“Mayroon po tayong malinaw na protocol lalo na pagdating sa mga kabataan na natagpuang lumalabag sa quarantine. Malinaw na dapat diretso sa mga magulang o guardian ang mga bata. Hindi sa detention center. Hindi puwedeng pagbuhatan ng kamay. Hindi po kailangan ng interpretasyon pa ang mga ito,” the Harvard-trained lawyer stressed.
Nograles said violators of the Joint Memorandum Circular signed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Council for the Welfare of Children on protocols in handling children and youth caught violating quarantine rules could be held liable under law.
He also said that his office is willing to work with children and youth who are victims of police brutality.
According to Nograles: “We are in touch with various volunteer lawyer groups for cases of abuse especially during quarantine.”
“Kung nais po ninyong mag-reklamo, makipag-ugnayan lang po kayo sa amin.”