Police officers allegedly invade Taguig condo, accuse residents of COVID-19 lockdown violations

MANILA – The administration of a condominium in the city of Taguig threatened Monday with legal action against “uniformed, armed and apparently agitated policemen” who allegedly entered the property and “booed and yelled” at the residents.

In a letter to fellow residents and unit owners, Pacific Plaza Towers Condominium Corp. President Erwin Elechicon said that 4 police officers entered the complex on Sunday afternoon “without some kind of warrant or authorization, what would be a violation. “

The “uniformed, armed and apparently agitated” police officers allegedly received information that Pacific Plaza Towers failed to carry out quarantine measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Elechicon said.

Led by Major General Joseph Austria, the police entered the facility due to the objections of the security guards who were threatened with arrest, and went to the garden and pool area where 6 to 8 residents were “practicing social distancing. , none of them using the pool facilities, and just walking or sitting next to each other, “Elechicon said.

“Armed police officers, and particularly the Major (who was not wearing a mask) harassed some of the residents there, reprimanded them loudly for not following the guidelines, and politely yelled at them to leave,” he said in a letter to the unit. . owners

These actions “were extremely annoying, clearly inappropriate and possibly illegal,” he said.

The incident was captured on video and widely shared online Sunday night, and occurred immediately after the military’s admission that it was preparing for an ongoing “martial law” enforcement of the COVID-19 blockade.

Elechicon said Pacific Plaza Towers previously coordinated with village officials about increasing supervision for social distancing on their walkways, asked residents to cover their faces when they left their units, and offered masks to those who did not have a .

He said management sought guidance from the barangay to keep the area open “so people can walk and sunbathe since the gym is closed and swimming is not allowed.”

“The ‘enemy’ is out there, and it’s called COVID-19. It’s certainly not us at Pacific Plaza Towers, where we all feel like we’re part of the same team, with the same goal: to remove the scourge of COVID-19 from our lives “Elchicon said.

“We do not deserve this; and we should certainly expect an explanation, a guarantee of our safety, and due respect from the authorities.”

The condo’s legal counsel “is already working on the appropriate legal action,” including a restraining order, a criminal complaint, and a civil action, which “we will bring to court immediately (or before the appropriate authority, possibly within the next 2 days. , “Elechicon said.

Pacific Plaza Towers also notified embassies and security groups of residents, some of whom are foreigners, about the incident, he said.

The administration will also double its security staff at the entrances, Elechicon said.

Some 50 million Luzon residents are quarantined until April 30 to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Not to mention the Pacific Plaza Towers incident, the city of Taguig issued a reminder to all subdivisions and residential buildings in the city to comply with ECQ regulations following the latest directive from President Duterte.

“The ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) rules and regulations apply equally to all communities. Patas patas po dapat (should be fair),” the city government said on its Facebook page.