Jamaine Punzalan

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary  Jonvic Remulla presents to the media, Russian Vlogger Vitaly Zdororvetskiy during a briefing at the Quezon City Reception House on April 7, 2025. Zdororvetskiy was arrested last April 3 and tagged as an undesirable foreign national after allegedly harassing security guards and stealing an industrial fan from a restaurant in Taguig City on Monday morning, March 31. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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RUSSIAN VLOGGER VITALY ARREST

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla apologized Monday to a man who was cited for being shirtless while mixing cement outside his home in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. </p><p>Remulla said he saw social media feedback about the incident and vowed to personally visit the man in the coming days.</p><p>“Ako po’y humihingi ng paumanhin at pupuntahan ko po siya sa mga susunod na araw. It was my fault that I did not give clearer instructions on how to do the Safer Cities Initiative. Nagkulang po ako ron,” he said. </p><p>“Ang tanging hangarin ko ay patahimikin ‘yung mga kalye. Ngunit, dahil sa kakulangan ng aking paliwanag, ay kahit sino na lang basta walang t-shirt ay siyang dinampot. Mali po ‘yun. Nagkamali po kami ron and I take full responsibility,” he added.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1104794911846481%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span>Despite the incident, Remulla said the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/6/dilg-drinking-liquor-on-streets-is-banned-1139">campaign </a>would continue, with adjustments and improved guidelines for police and residents. </div><p>He said the program would be assessed after April by comparing focus crime data from previous years.</p><p>“So far, ang report ng aking mga regional directors and district directors ay malaki na po ang binaba ng krimen ng eight focus crimes sa Metro Manila at sa ibang mga lugar. We expect to do more and we expect it to be better, but don&#x27;t expect it to be perfect,” Remulla said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POLICE DISTRICTS ADJUST ENFORCEMENT</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Some police districts in Metro Manila have temporarily eased the strict enforcement of ordinances penalizing people for not wearing shirts in public.</p><p>The Manila Police District (MPD) said it ordered units to suspend punitive actions and instead issue warnings and conduct information drives following public concern about the<a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/10/palace-on-safe-cities-discipline-protection-not-anti-poor-1747"> perceived “anti-poor impact” of the ordinance.</a></p><p>“This measure aims to uphold public trust and ensure humane and compassionate policing across all areas,” MPD spokesperson PMaj. Philipp Ines said in a statement. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said it was intensifying information campaigns and community engagement to promote voluntary compliance and better understanding of the rules.</p><p>The Eastern Police District (EPD) also said it was working with local government units to boost public awareness through dialogues, flyers, and social media. </p><p>Remulla clarified that workers should be given consideration, while the ordinance is mainly aimed at groups loitering shirtless in public spaces. </p><p>“Tuloy ang campaign. We just have better information para sa mga residente at para sa mga pulis,” he said. </p><p>“Katulad ‘yung mga nagtatrabaho, dapat bigyan ng consideration ‘yan. Pero kasi nakikita niyo, may nakatambay sa kanto na walang t-shirt silang mga grupo. There is a very small price to pay for civility. Ang sando naman ngayon ay wala pang P50, mag-sando man lang,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THOUSANDS OF VIOLATORS  </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported 61,549 ordinance-related cases addressed from April 6 to April 11 under the Safer Metro Manila Plan.</p><p>Most cases involved drinking and smoking in public (18,904), followed by roaming without shirts (5,894), curfew violations by minors (5,232), and karaoke beyond allowed hours (1,276). </p><p>Other violations reached 30,243.</p><p>Of the total, 39,205 individuals were warned or released, 21,317 were fined, and 1,027 cases were filed in court.</p><p>Police said sustained visibility and coordination with communities contributed to the results.</p><p>“Malinaw na kapag tuloy-tuloy ang presensya ng pulis at maayos ang koordinasyon sa LGU at barangay, mas nagiging maayos ang sitwasyon sa komunidad,” PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/10/palace-on-safe-cities-discipline-protection-not-anti-poor-1747">Palace on &#x27;Safe Cities&#x27;: Discipline, protection not &#x27;anti-poor&#x27; </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uupYFiJObXc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla apologized Monday to a man who was cited for being shirtless while mixing cement outside his home in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. </p>

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla apologized Monday to a man who was cited for being shirtless while mixing cement outside his home in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City.

Remulla apologizes over citation served to shirtless man, vows clearer rules in Safer Cities drive

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Remulla apologizes over citation served to shirtless man, vows clearer rules in Safer Cities drive

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 13, 2026 11:59 AM PHT

Read More:

DILG

PNP

police

city ordinance

shirtless

Safer Metro Manila Plan

Safer Cities Initiative

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