CEBU CITY, Philippines – At least 160 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos of the Philippine National Police on Sunday (June 28) started conducting patrols in strategic parts of Cebu City to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said some members of the elite police unit from Camp Crame were assigned to man checkpoints while others were deployed in the 12 villages that were placed on strict lockdown due to a high number of COVID-19 cases.
“Based on our assessment, many people heeded the call to stay inside their homes although there were still a few individuals who really want to try us,” he said.
At least 67 checkpoints have been set up to ensure that the people would stay within their villages: 17 along the main roads and 50 in interior roads of the barangays here.
“The presence of the SAF commandos hopefully will eliminate familiarity between law enforcers and Cebuanos. We noticed that some residents had the courage to violate the rules because they know the policemen on duty,” Ferro said.
All SAF commandos and other policemen were provided with complete personal protective equipment that consists of face masks, face shields, and gloves.
The 12 villages that were placed on strict lockdown were Sambag II, Kamputhaw, Sambag I, Basak San Nicolas, Mabolo, Guadalupe, Lahug, Duljo Fatima, Tinago, Tisa, Ermita, and Tejero.