Quarantine, curfew violators breach 100,000 mark

MANILA, Philippines — The number of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and curfew violators from March 17 until April 12—or a period of 27 days—has ballooned to 108,088.

Data released by the Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield on Monday showed the total number of violators increased by 3,092 on Easter Sunday.

Of the total number of violators, 26,130 have been arrested. Complaints have been filed against 5,539 arrested violators while cases are set to be filed against the remaining 20,591.

A total of 76,989 others were warned and 4,969 were fined.

According to the task force, Luzon has recorded the most number of violators at 64,946. The entire island was placed under ECQ since March 17 as a measure to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The quarantine period will end on April 30.

Visayas has 19,279 violators, and Mindanao at 23,863. Other provinces and cities in these regions were also placed under ECQ.

The joint task force is the enforcement arm of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

It is composed of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Meanwhile, some 680 individuals were also arrested for hoarding and profiteering of essential items during the ECQ period.

A total of 8,068 drivers of public utility vehicles were also apprehended. Under the quarantine order, mass transport operations are also prohibited.

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GSG