The Philippine National Police (PNP) has told militant labor organizations not to conduct mass actions on May 1,  Labor Day.

Under the enhanced community quarantine, any forms of mass gathering were prohibited to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The general public was encouraged to stay at home.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said the police received information about  plans of some militant organization to stage assemblies and protest actions on Friday.

“Much as we respect their right to peaceably assemble, out of the exigency of the health crisis situation, we beg to discourage them from pursuing these plans for their own safety and in the best interest of public health,” Gamboa said.

“Let me emphasize that the strict enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine is the State’s fulfillment of its duty to protect the right to life of its people, especially against those who violate it by asserting their liberties, which in this case is not absolute, and which inevitably spreads the contagion further,” he added.

The PNP chief warned that those who will violate the quarantine rules would be arrested and detained.

Fines will be imposed, he said./Stacy Ang