Lacson wants police-public cooperation to tame spike in Covid cases

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. File photo / Albert Calvelo of Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson called on both the police and public to do what it must in order to stop the spike of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines.

The country is in the middle of a Covid-19 surge  the past few days, registering an upward trend of about 3,000 cases a day.

Lacson, in a statement, said the government must utilize the police force in implementing the social distancing rules while the public should also practice said measures.

“We are under a state of public health emergency by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 922. The country is still struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Lacson Wednesday.

“In fact, there is a noticeable spike in the past few days, and the government must use its police power under the Constitution to make sure that the further spread of the virus is prevented or controlled.”

The national government is planning to deploy personnel from the both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in implementing and enforcing social distancing measures in public, similar to what it did in the first stages of the lockdown in 2020.

Back in March 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No.922 declaring a state of public health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this declaration, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is allowed to call upon the PNP “and other law enforcement agencies” to provide assistance in addressing the pandemic.

Proclamation No.922 will only come to an end if Duterte withdraws it.

“That said, civilians should also do their part by cooperating with lawful instructions and following the proper health protocols. This is the key to minimizing the spread of the coronavirus,” said Lacson.

JPV