Cops deployed to money remittance centers

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday ordered the deployment of policemen in remittance centers handling the distribution of the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program to ensure that social distancing and the mandatory use of face masks are observed.

Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said Año gave the order to Joint Task Force COVID Shield chief Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar following reports that minimum health standards were not being observed in remittance centers.

“Our field offices have monitored long lines in some remittance centers, we advise them to practice social distancing at all times to protect themselves and their families,” Malaya said in a statement.

—Nestor Corrales