MANILA, Philippines — The Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield, enforcer of government’s quarantine policies, has ordered police station commanders to appoint a police supervisor to monitor the implementation of health protocols in every barangay.
Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, JTF COVID Shield chief, said the police supervisor for each barangay will lead all barangay security officers for enforcement of health protocols in barangays such as physical distancing and mandatory wearing of face masks.
Eleazar noted that the directive, which was approved by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa, was in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement to be stricter to violators of health rules.
“The presence of policemen is not only a proven crime deterrent but also compels civilians to behave. In this time of pandemic when compliance to the minimum health safety protocols is a must to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we need to make the presence of the police in the barangay to ensure that the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is enforced properly and strictly,” Eleazar said in a statement.
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To date, JTF COVID Shield recorded 237,412 lockdown violators nationwide since the enhanced community quarantine was imposed last March 17.
Of the total number, 3,090 were detained, 43,776 were fined while 119,553 were warned.