PNP to look into reported hoarding of medical oxygen tanks

FULL TANK As Metro Manila braces for the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital in Rizal Park gets ready with hundreds of oxygen tanks for good measure. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the reported hoarding of medical oxygen tanks and medical supplies amid the threat of the more infectious Delta COVID-19 variant in the country.

Eleazar issued the directive after Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama pushed the PNP and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to check into the alleged hoarding of medical oxygen tanks.

“I have directed the Cebu City Police and the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to closely coordinate with the DTI office in the area and look into this report of hoarding,” Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar added that the PNP will probe whether hoarding is also happening in Metro Manila and in other areas of the country.

“Pati dito sa Metro Manila ay aalamin din natin kung may mga ganitong insidente. Ngayon natin mas kailangan ng sapat na suplay ng oxygen tanks dahil sa tumataas na bilang ng COVID-19 cases dahil na rin sa mas nakahahawang Delta variant,” Eleazar added.

(We will also check if there are hoarding incidents in Metro Manila. At this time, we need enough supply of oxygen tanks because of the rising COVID-19 cases due to the more transmissible Delta variant.)

Further, Eleazar called on the public to stop hoarding medical oxygen tanks as lives depend on them.

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