Angeleños who will be caught without a face mask on or a quarantine pass while in public places will be arrested and fined.
Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin – who also urged Angeleños to avoid social gatherings – issued this warning during his Monday public address last August 3 via the City Information Office (CIO) Facebook page as the city saw the recovery of 37 persons out of the tally of 88 confirmed COVID cases in the city, while five died of the virus, as of writing.
“Simula ngayong araw, lahat ng lalabas ng bahay na walang suot na face mask, at walang dalang quarantine pass, pagmumultahin o ikukulong,” Lazatin warned.
He added:“Inatasan ko po ang ilan sa mga kawani ng City Hall, mga opisyal sa barangay, at maging ang mga kapulisan natin na hulihin lahat ng lalabag sa patakaran natin hinggil sa pagsusuot ng face mask at pagdala ng quarantine pass tuwing lalabas ng bahay.”
Deputized to arrest violators are personnel of the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), respective barangay officials, members of the Barangay Affairs and Public Assistance Center (BAPAC), Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Angeles City Traffic Development Office (ACTDO, City Health Office (CHO), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and Angeles City Tourism Auxiliary (ACTA).
A citation ticket will be issued to a violator who will also be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P3,000 for the second offense; and P5,000 for the third offense with imprisonment of one to six months.
However, an employee ID can just be presented by a frontliner, health worker or a private employee if they fail to bring his or her worker’s quarantine pass.
During the same online public address, Lazatin also reiterated his appeal to barangay officials to help the city government and to double their efforts in implementing safety and health protocols to contain the spread of the dreaded infection in the city.
“Nakikiusap po ako sa mga barangay officials natin sa 33 barangays na gawin po natin ang trabaho natin. Hindi ko po kakayanin magisa ang laban sa COVID-19,” Lazatin urged.
He called anew on some undisciplined and stubborn Angeleños to follow the safety protocols set by the government to avoid contracting and spreading the virus..
Most of the new active cases recorded in the city had attended social gatherings, according to Lazatin.
“Huwag po natin pairalin ang tigas ng ulo at simulan natin ang disiplina sa ating mga sarili. Iwasan muna po ang social gathering. Alam naman po natin na bawal yan,” Lazatin said.
“Magkaisa po tayong sumunod sa mga regulasyon ng inyong pamahalaan para sa kaligtasan ng bawat isang Angeleños,” he implored his constituents as the infectious virus still endangers the health of Angeleños.