The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) downplayed a suggestion by one of its undersecretaries to arrest individuals who line up way before their scheduled claiming time in supplemental aid distribution centers.

In an interview with DZBB on April 13, Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño warned that eager ayuda recipients may be violating quarantine protocols.

“Sabi ko nga sa mga barangay captains, na magbigay kayo ng kupon, tapos nakalagay kung anong oras pupunta sa distribution area. Kapag pumunta nang maaga, arestuhin ninyo kasi na-violate iyong social distancing,” Diño said.

(I told barangay captains to give beneficiaries a coupon that indicated the time they should go to the distribution area. If they come too early, they should be arrested because physical distancing is violated.)

“Bakit ka pupunta doon ng madaling araw e ang oras mo alas sais, alas syete? (Why will you go there at dawn when your scheduled time is 6 am or 7 am),” he added.

But in a text message to Rappler, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Diño’s comments were his personal opinion.

“I didn’t hear him say that. I will have to confirm. If he did, he was only expressing his personal opinion. There is no law authorizing the arrest of people who merely come early for the ayuda,” Malaya said on Friday, April 16.

Diño’s comments stemmed from reports of disorganized distribution of supplemental aid. The Quezon City government drew flak for the overcrowding in distribution sites on April 7, with queues extending past midnight.

The DILG has called it an “isolated incident,” while Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has apologized multiple times over the incident and assured the overcrowding was no longer repeated.

In an interview with state-run PTV-4 on Friday, Malaya also reiterated it was not a problem that the distribution of cash aid extended past curfew hours.

“Para po sa akin, hindi naman po masama kung abutin ng hatinggabi. Ibig sabihin, gusto lang tapusin ng distribution team iyong pamamahagi ng ayuda, so long as nasusunod iyong physical distancing,” Malaya said.

(In my view, it is not bad that aid distribution is taking until midnight. It only means that the distribution team wants to finish aid distribution, as long as physical distancing is observed.)

Play Video

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on April 12 it would stop arresting quarantine violators in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Metro Manila and 4 nearby provinces, collectively known as “NCR Plus,” transitioned to MECQ that day after two weeks under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the strictest form of lockdown.

The enforcement of ECQ compelled the national government to provide local government units with supplemental aid to be distributed to residents, in a bid discourage them from leaving their homes. – Rappler.com