Foreigners not exempt in following quarantine measures: IBP

MANILA - Foreigners are not exempt from following the country's laws, including quarantine measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said Tuesday.

IBP President Domingo Cayosa made the remark after a foreign resident of an exclusive village in Makati disobeyed authorities who were enforcing the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

• Makati police to sue foreign resident who defied quarantine in exclusive subdivision
• Lacson wants Immigration ofc to look into foreigner's alleged defiance of quarantine rules in Makati subd

"Trabaho ng [pulis] na ipatupad ang alituntunin ng ECQ at sila naman ay ino-authorize ng private subdivisions, condominiums na pumasok para tumulong ipatupad ito," he told radio DZMM.

"So 'yung mga dayuhan kahit hindi sila citizens of the Philippines, kinakailangan sumunod sila sa ating mga alituntunin. Hindi rin natin pwede kunsintihin 'yung pambabastos at outright defiance of authorities kahit sinuman sila."

Cayosa warned the public against making pre-judgment based on reports they see online.

"Napapaigting mga ganitong mangyari dahil tayo mahilig tayo humusga kung ano ang unang makita natin sa Facebook o media," he said.

"Ang rule of law sinasabi niyan, bago tayo manghusga dapat mabigyan ang magkabilang panig ng pagkakataon na maipaliwanag ang kanilang sarili at huhusgahan ng impartial judge."

The IBP had earlier called out unlawful punishments being imposed on quarantine violators following the killing of a former soldier in Quezon City.

• Rule of men? IBP denounces 'inhumane penalties' vs quarantine violators
• CHR seeks public health, not military approach in COVID-19 fight