POLICE will not only arrest violators of the mandatory mask directive but also booked and placed in holding area.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday clarified the role of the police in enforcing the presidential order.

Eleazar said officers are required to bring the arrested to holding area where they will be booked and charged.

“If there is a community service designated under the ordinance, then we’ll do that. If there is a fine, we’ll do that too and then after that, we will release them,” he said in a radio interview.

He said several government officials had sent masks to the PNP to be given to violators for free.

Eleazar also addressed concerns of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) the order of President Rodrigo Duterte for mandatory wearing of masks could lead to police abuse.

He said he will not allow arresting officers to parade the violators around or require them to do push-ups.

Vice President Maria Leonor

“Leni” Robredo also weighed in on the mandatory wearing of masks, saying people who wear masks improperly should be given a chance to correct their mistake instead of being arrested.

During her Sunday radio program, Robredo said it was not right to apprehend outright someone for wearing a mask the wrong way.

Educating the violator is the better response, she said.

Those who are stubborn and insist on defying the directive should be required to perform community service, just as Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had recommended, Robredo said. Those who are stubborn and insist on defying the directive should be required to perform community service, just as Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had recommended, Robredo said.

Guevarra had proposed local government units consider the imposition of community service as an alternative to stiff fines or imprisonment as the penalty for violating health protocol-related ordinances.