MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on Friday assured the public that human rights will be respected should a martial law-like lockdown be enforced to combat the transmission of the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

Gamboa explained that just because the quarantine will be in a martial law-type of implementation the rights of the people will no longer be honored.

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“Hindi naman sinabi na ‘pag nagsabi ka ng martial law type eh mawala na ‘yung human rights. (It doesn’t mean that if you have a martial law-type of enforcement, we will disregard human rights.) It’s always there, it is always respected, and we can always implement it without violating human rights,” Gamboa told dzBB when sought for his comment on the latest pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“These are extraordinary times, these are not ordinary times. Kung kailangan naming gawin kung ano dapat gawin (If we need to do what needs to be done), then we will do it. Of course, still in line kung ano ‘yung mga (with) national policies,” he added.

In a taped public address on Thursday night, Duterte threatened to implement “martial law-like” lockdown measures to address the increasing number of individuals who breach quarantine protocols.

Gamboa said he already instructed his regional directors to intensify crackdown against violators of the quarantine protocols.

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