Police set crackdown on drinking spots

MANILA, Philippines — Policemen nationwide were ordered to keep an eye on bars and other drinking spots within their areas that could turn into the “ground zero” of COVID-19 mass infections.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of Joint Task Force Covid Shield, gave the order on Sunday after two establishments in Quezon City and Makati were caught illegally operating despite a standing ban in areas still under community quarantine.

Eleazar said that based on health protocol guidelines, bars and other establishments whose primary business was to serve alcohol, were still prohibited from reopening even under the modified general community quarantine.

“So any attempt to accept customers is already a clear violation of the IATF guidelines and possibly even local ordinances,” he added.

“There were already instances in the past of drinking sessions leading to mass infection. As responsible business people, they should follow the existing rules so that they will not add to the coronavirus infection problems,” he said.

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