MANILA, Philippines — To further avoid mass gatherings and “super spreader events,” the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday ordered police chiefs to deploy more cops in public areas.
This was issued by PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar after Eduardo Año, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, required law enforcers to strengthen their visibility in public places to ensure that health protocols are observed.
“Batay sa order ng ating SILG (secretary of Interior and Local Government), inatasan ko na ang lahat ng police commanders sa buong bansa na lalong paigtingin ang pakikipag-tulungan sa mga barangay sa pag-iikot at pagbabantay laban sa mga super-spreader events sa gitna ng banta ng Delta variant ng COVID-19,” said Eleazar.
(Based on the order of our SILG, I have instructed all police commanders throughout the country to further intensify cooperation with the barangays in patrolling and guarding against the super -spreader events amid the threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19.)
He ordered police chiefs to determine how many cops are needed to secure public locations and other establishments in their areas of responsibility, and deploy them immediately.
The PNP chief emphasized that this enforcement of protocols should be done jointly by the police and the local officials, especially barangay workers.
He then warned activity organizers that multiple charges will be filed against them if they are caught.
“Binabalaan ko din ang mga organizer ng mga aktibidad na ito na walang pasensyahang magaganap kapag kayo ay nahuling lumalabag dahil sisiguruduhin namin na patong-patong na kaso ang kakaharapin ninyo,” said Eleazar.
(I also warn the organizers of these activities, if you are caught violating [health protocols], we will make sure that you face multiple charges.)
Año has warned that local chief executives will also be made accountable for the violations of health and safety protocols in their areas.
According to Año, quarantine rules should always be strictly implemented after local cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant were recorded in the country.
Eleazar also assured that the PNP would closely coordinate with the national government to determine how law enforcers could further strengthen the implementation of quarantine guidelines.
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