Nearly 3,000 lockdown violators recorded in one day

A man wearing a protective mask crosses a usually busy street during a community quarantine to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus in Manila, Philippines. (AP)

MANILA, Philippines — A total of  2,996 violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) were recorded by the police on Thursday, bringing the total number of lockdown violators to 99,326 from March 17 until April 9.

Data from the Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield released on Friday showed that of the total number of violators, 24,569 individuals have been arrested. Cases were filed against 5,025 people, while complaints were being readied against the remaining 19,544.

Another 70,173 violators received warnings while 4,584 were slapped with fines.

Violations range from breaching curfew order to disobedience to authorities enforcing the ECQ.

Luzon has the most number of recorded violators at 58,051. The entire area, which is home to more than 50 million Filipinos, was placed on enhanced community quarantine from March 17 until April 30.

Visayas recorded 18,124 violators, while another 23,151 were reported in Mindanao. Some areas in these regions were also placed under quarantine in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Meanwhile, the number of persons arrested for hoarding or profiteering of essential items is now at 673, according to the task force.

The number of drivers of public utility vehicles apprehended was at 7,898. Under the ECQ, public transport operations were suspended also as a measure against the further spread of COVID-19.