Palace on wearing face mask: Enforce rule based on ‘human experience’

Malacañang said the mandatory wearing of face masks should be implemented based on “human experience” especially if the face mask was removed to drink water.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after journalist and COVID-19 survivor Howie Severino was apprehended in Quezon City on Wednesday for his alleged failure to cover his nose and mouth after drinking water.

In his Thursday press briefing, Roque said while it was mandatory to wear face masks when going outside because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the order should be implemented based on experience.

“Bagama’t may mga (Although there are) rules, it must be implemented pursuant to human experience. Alam niyo po ang pag-inom talagang kinakailangan ng taumbayan (You all know that drinking water is a necessity),” he said.

Roque suggested that law enforcers were only strictly implementing the order because Quezon City has the highest number of active COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila that even Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed that she has the disease.

“Tingin ko naman ay yung periodista na nasita po eh nakita po niya at napansin din niya na matindi ang pagpapatupad (I think the journalist saw for himself that law enforcers were only strictly implementing it),” he said.

“Mabuti na rin na nagkaroon ng seminar doon sa mga na-apprehend. So iwan na po natin ‘yan diyan (It’s also good that they have a seminar for those who are apprehended. Let’s leave it at that),” he added.

However, Roque said disputes over the wearing of face masks could be settled if only the one apprehended can explain why he removed his mask.

“Siguro naman po, explain lang natin sa mga pumupuna na ang ginagawa lang natin ay tinanggal lang natin ang mask para uminom (I think we should just explain that we only removed our face mask so we can drink water),” he said.

“Wala naman pong problema yun ‘pag na-explain. Makukuha naman po ‘yan sa malinaw na paliwanag (There’s no problem once it’s explained. It can be settled through reason),” he added.

Meanwhile, Roque said members of President Duterte’s Cabinet have met with Metro Manila mayors and suggested to have a common ordinance that will penalize those who are not wearing face masks in public places.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had urged local government units (LGUs) to issue ordinances making the wearing of face masks mandatory.