Over 230,000 people were accosted   due to quarantine violation from March to July,  Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said on Tuesday.

Eleazar said that 72,000 of them were arrested, only 18,000 were actually detained.

“Mula noong March 17 hanggang July 19 ay tayo po ay nakapag-accost na ng 233,000 pero kalimitan po rito, 61 percent, ay binibigyan na natin po ng warning,” Eleazar said.

“’Yun pong inaresto, 72,000 pero hindi naman lahat nakakulong ‘yan. Inaresto pero ni-release din. Ide-demanda na lang at large at meron lang around eight percent or 18,000 ‘yung ating inaresto.”

Based on the data, at least 41,605 people were fined and 3,059 are still detained for their violation.

Among the violations committed were the failure to wear a face mask, lack of an authorization to be outside a residence, and failure to socially distance, Eleazar said.

In a meeting with Cabinet officials aired on Tuesday morning, President Rodrigo Duterte called on the police to arrest and subsequently detain those who will not wear a face mask amid the pandemic.

“I have no qualms in arresting people who are not wearing [face] mask. It seems to be trivial, but during a time of pandemic, it can be a serious crime. You are transmitting virus, you are a carrier,” he said./Stacy Ang