PAMALAKAYA slams NCR-wide uniform curfew; urges public to be cautious with abusive police
Manila, Philippines – “It’s déjà vu all over again; the last time the police were tasked to curb the spread of the virus, thousands upon thousands were arrested and human rights violations spiked faster than the deadly virus,” According to the militant fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Monday, opposing the uniform curfew hours within the National Capital Region (NCR) for 15 days.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA said they “never trust the police in handling a public emergency situation”. It also slammed the Duterte administration for not “learning from its mistake” on how to address a public health crisis.
“The PNP has no business in curbing the pandemic. They are neither public health experts nor medical practitioners to begin with. By doing a military, instead of medical approach on a health crisis, the Duterte government is repeating the same old mistake again,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
PAMALAKAYA said the uniform curfew in Metro Manila exactly a year after the community quarantine is an “indication of the government’s failed response to the pandemic”.
“The NCR-wide curfew says it all on the government’s pandemic response – epic fail. If only the government heeded the call for massive testing, systematic contact tracing and isolation, among other medical and scientific-based solutions, we would have been moving forward by now,” Hicap, former Anakpawis Party-list solon added.
Lastly, the fishers’ group called the public to “stay vigilant” when going outside and make sure to “know one’s rights to fend off any abuse and misuse of power by authorities”.
“This is a public service announcement to inform everyone to know their rights. They must exert extra caution when going outside, not only with the virus, but with abusive authorities most of all,” ended Hicap. ###
