MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday chided the Philippine National Police (PNP) for seemingly declaring “war against love" instead of against the

Senator Ralph Recto. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS
MANILA, Philippines Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday chided the Philippine National Police (PNP) for seemingly declaring war against love” instead of against the Covid-19 pandemic when it discouraged couples from showing public displays of affection (PDA).
The PNP leadership should clarify the pronouncement made by its spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Idebrandi Usana, on PDA, Recto said in a statement.
On its face, his statement seems to be a police declaration of war on love, and not on Covid. If these are the new rules of romantic engagement during LDRLove in Dutertes Rulethen I believe that the President would not agree to it, the senator said.
If all acts of public display of affection are prohibitedharmless kisses, holding hands, hugsthen the rules border on the absurd, he added.
Recto questioned the reasoning behind discouraging PDA when couples share the same bed.
Take note, the PNP spokesmans statement frowns upon public display of lovey-dovey for health reasons. So a couple who shares a bed at night cannot kiss each other goodbye on the street when they go their separate ways to work and should just text each other kiss emojis? he said.
Ang bait naman ni Covid [Covid is so kind] that it doesnt harm couples making out in private. This is a scientific eureka moment worthy of a Nobel Prize, he added.
Further, Recto wondered whether the ban would also prohibit a wife holding her husband while onboard the back of a motorcycle.
Will her hug be prohibited, too? he asked.
Will the ban include the Mano po! of kids to their grandparents, as it falls under the standard definition of affectionate acts? he also said.
The senator then stressed that communication is an important tool in fighting the pandemic.
Words can moveand frightena nation. When you wield a loud microphone, dont treat it like a police whistle you can blow anytime, he said.
JPV
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