Cebu Imposes 24-Hour Curfew for Students, Elderlies

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued a new policy imposing strict home quarantine to all students and senior citizens aged 65 and above through round-the-clock curfew, in an effort to keep the vulnerable sector from the threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Garcia’s order is implemented starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The 24-hour curfew for students and the elderly will exclude those who need to travel for medical care and other such important reasons to be out of the house.

“Diha nalang sila sa sulod sa balay, kay ang kapolisan ug military ang mosita kanila kung dili motuman (They better stay in their homes because the police and the military will question them if they will not follow),” Garcia said in a quick announcement to the media over the weekend.

Because of this, Garcia said everyone is urged to bring any form of identification (IDs) or cedula, for the police or military to determine if one is a student, a working person or an elderly.

She said those who cannot provide an ID are advised to stay home if they have no important business to do outside.

“As of now, the general rule is magdala sad sila og ID (they should bring with them an ID),” she said.

Earlier, Garcia also ordered temporary cessation of operations of establishments, including internet cafés.

Meanwhile, the governor reminded the town mayors on the policy not allowing cockfighting while the province is on the state of calamity, as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16.

This pronouncement on cockfighting came after Garcia received reports that the village chief of Cabatbatan, Dumanjug was arrested by authorities.

Ruel Dinglasa Cuevas, 39, celebrated his birthday in a detention cell after he and another individual, Jerry Ligonas Torres, 40, organized a cockfight last Friday.

Garcia said aside from violating the law prohibiting illegal gambling activity, cockfighting is also a violation of her latest executive order (No. 5-I) which discourages such activities that gather a number of people in view of the strict social distancing policy imposed by the national and provincial governments.

“I urge all mayors, cockfighting is not allowed anymore. This executive order applies to all, whether we are in the same political party or not, you have to follow,” Garcia said, adding that “lakip ang kapitan niini manubag (village chiefs will also be answerable), if we see you nga dili motuman, dili ko mag duha duha nga ipahamtang ninyo ang tukmang silot (that you are not following orders, I will not hesitate to impose on you the correct penalty).” (PNA)