At least 50,021 cases of face mask violations were recorded in just a week from May 31 to June 6, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.
At least 613 were apprehended for taking part in mass gatherings while 13,882 were accosted for failing to observe physical distancing.
Of the total number of health protocol violators, more than 1,700 were charged.
On Monday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte reminded Filipinos to continue observing basic protocols even as the government ramps up its vaccination program to arrest the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is no guarantee – though the vaccine would give you a measure of protection – it does not guarantee that you will not get COVID again. So in spite of your vaccines and boosters, please observe the basic protocol: wear a face mask, wash your hands frequently, and observe social distancing,” he said.
“This pandemic will eventually end. With your cooperation, this will end more quickly,” the President added.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Harry Roque and chief presidential legal counsel Salvado Panelo, both lawyers by profession, were at loggerheads over a proposal to file murder charges against COVID-19 spreaders.
Roque said a “quarantine law” that would slap heftier punishment against COVID-19 spreaders is more pragmatic instead of filing murder raps, as suggested by Panelo, against those who violate quarantine protocols despite knowing fully that they have contracted the disease.
“The easiest thing is to have a special law so we can impose penalties. We really need a permanent quarantine law. Other countries already have that,” he said.
“I don’t agree with Secretary Sal Panelo’s interpretation. It is still better to have a quarantine law,” Roque added.
The President earlier ordered the arrest of barangay captains who failed to stop events that violate existing health protocols similar to the super spreader events recorded in Caloocan City, Quezon City and Bulacan last month.
“To our policemen, you are put on notice: the first person to be arrested is the barangay captain as a person of authority. If another super spreader event happens, arrest the barangay captain for dereliction of duty and failure to implement the law under the Revised Penal Code. The first one in the police lineup should be the barangay captain,” Duterte said.
