If need be, Cagayan de Oro City residents should be reminded time and again to wear their face masks when going outside not just for compliance but also for their own protection.

“Di ta suot og face mask kon naa lang diha ang pulis kay ato ning proteksyon sa COVID-19 (Let’s not wear our face masks only when there is police around because our face masks are for our protection from COVID-19),” City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said during Monday morning’s (Aug. 3) virtual flag raising ceremony and program hosted by the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) at City Hall’s grounds.

Sabuga-a said this days after a cell phone video went viral on Facebook showing a female commuter being made to get off of a passenger jeepney by passengers for refusing to wear a face mask. The female commuter was seen arguing with an elderly commuter who reminded her to wear her face mask prior to being told to get out of the vehicle.

“Ang atong pulis daghan kaayo areas i-patrol og og naa pa sila kampanya batik krimen so di sila maka-monitor 24/7 sa katawhan nga mo-comply sa pagsuot sa face mask. So ato silang tabangan og mag kooperar ta sa ila aron proteksyonan nato atong kaugalingon sa COVID-19 (Our police are busy patrolling areas and waging their campaign against crime so they cannot monitor 24/7 on people to require their compliance in wearing their face masks. So let’s help them by cooperating with them so we can protect ourselves from COVID-19),” Sabuga-a said.

In last Thursday noon’s (July 30) press briefing, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said he was thankful to the passengers shown in the cell phone video for their vigilance in reporting violators of the city ordinance requiring the wearing of face masks during pandemics.