Over 36,800 accosted during first three days of NCR granular lockdowns

MORE OF THIS SOON A police officer keeps watch on a section of Parkland Avenue in Barangay
177, Caloocan City, on Sept. 7, enforcing an example of a granular lockdown. INQUIRER file photo / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — More than 36,800 individuals were accosted in Metro Manila during the first three days of the implementation of granular lockdowns in the region for violating minimum public health standards, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said a total of 36,854 violations were recorded by the police from September 16 to 18, averaging around 12,285 violations per day. He said the violators were either fined or charged.

The daily average is almost the same as the records from when the NCR was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 21 to September 15, said Eleazar.

“Ang bilin natin sa ating mga pulis, instead na magsagawa ng checkpoint operations doon sa mga boundary, mas i-focus natin ang deployment kung saan nagtitipon-tipon ang ating mga kababayan,” Eleazar said.

(We ordered our police that instead of having checkpoint operations in the boundaries, let’s focus our deployment in areas where people crowd.)

A new five-level alert quarantine classification system has been implemented by the national government. It started in Metro Manila which was placed under Alert Level 4 on September 16.

Aside from the new alert level system, granular lockdowns are also implemented.

EDV