Philippines' Duterte orders arrest of mask violators
Gulf Times
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) receiving a dose of vaccine against the Covid-19 coronavirus from the Secretary of Health Francisco Duque (R) at Malacanang Palace in Manila.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered police to arrest anyone not wearing a mask properly, including below the nose, as the country battles to contain surging coronavirus infections. Duterte issued the directive after a meeting with his Covid-19 task force -- where everyone except him can be seen wearing the mandatory face covering -- an official video released late Wednesday showed. Thousands of people have been punished for violating Covid-19 rules since the end of March, when restrictions were tightened in the capital and surrounding provinces after a spike in cases. The justice secretary and police chief have urged officers to fine offenders or make them do community service instead of arresting them, following the death of a man forced to do a hundred squats as punishment for breaking curfew.
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