LEGAZPI CITY, April 30 (PIA) - A total of 2,114 persons in Bicol region were arrested by the Philippine National Police for violating rules and ordinances being implemented under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to April 27, 2020.

Police Brigadier General Anthony Alcaneses, regional director of Police Regional Office 5, said that with these number of arrested individuals, 914 were apprehended for violating curfew hours; 1,184 for disobedience and 16 for overpricing of medical supplies and other essential goods.

Alcaneses said that the province of Catanduanes has the highest number of arrested persons for curfew hours with 560, followed by Camarines Sur with 124; Sorsogon with 58; Albay with 56; Camarines Norte with 49; Naga with 40 and Masbate with 27.

He said that 38 arrested persons have undergone inquest proceedings; 876 are for regular filling and 62 cases are now filed in court while 4,691 were counselled and were warned to go home and 346 were fined.

Catanduanes also recorded the highest number of arrests for disobedience with 552, followed by Sorsogon with 208; Camarines Sur with 141; Masbate with 110; Albay 105; Naga with 44 and Camarines Norte with 24 while 150 cases were filed in court.

Sixteen persons were also arrested by police for hoarding, profiteering, and overpricing of medical supplies and essential goods, while 16 violators with 5 cases already filed in court, Alcaneses added.

"As the ECQ is still set to continue until May 15, PNP Bikol will remain relentless in enforcing the guidelines of the quarantine within the bounds of the law and with high regards to human rights. We call on public for cooperation and adheres with the protocols implemented by the authorities as there will be no warnings for ECQ violators but instead, arrest and inquest procedures will be applied to cases of violations of Republic Act 11332, as well as Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code," he said. (PRO/NNL-PIAV)