Duterte’s Arrest Order for Improper Mask Wearing an Abuse

Philippine human rights groups on Thursday warned that an order by President Rodrigo Duterte for police to arrest and detain anyone not properly wearing face masks was prone to abuse.

Duterte issued the directive in a late-night public address on Wednesday, as he stressed the need for Filipinos to comply with the health protocols against the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The president lamented that some people still do not properly wear face masks, with their noses out.

“My orders to the police are, those who are not wearing their masks properly in order to protect the public to arrest and detain them,’’ Duterte said.

The Commission on Human Rights said that while it agrees on the need for everyone to observe health protocols during the pandemic, it was concerned that the arrest order “may be prone to excessive discretion and abuse.’’

“Given the overcrowded conditions of jails and other detention facilities in the Philippines, detention may not be sound in preventing further spread of COVID-19 in communities,’’ the commission added.

The Department of Interior and Local Government plans to meet the national police and local government units to discuss the implementation of Duterte’s directive.

Currently, violators were only fined and arrests are made if there is resistance when they are told to wear their masks properly.

The Philippines’ total caseload stood at 1,080,172 on Thursday, with the Department of Health reporting an additional 6,637 infections.

The death toll was up to191 to 17,991, the department added.