PNP to deploy cops to leisure areas

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police may deploy more cops to Metro Manila’s public leisure areas, which have seen crowds of people after the alert level was downgraded to 3.

Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the PNP, reminded the public to continue strictly observing minimum public health standards, particularly physical distancing.

In a statement on Monday, Eleazar tasked National Capital Region (NCR) Police Office to look into fielding more police officers to areas where people are likely to converge.

“I have tasked all concerned police offices to determine if there is a need to deploy more cops to enforce the minimum health standards,” he said, stressing that police personnel needed to ensure public safety from the coronavirus infection.

Eleazar said that PNP personnel had to guard against another surge in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

He directed NCR police commanders to continue to work closely with local governments to assess the required manpower to strictly enforce minimum public health standards.

Eleazar noted that on the first weekend on alert level 3 in Metro Manila, people started flocking to churches, malls, parks, and other public places, including the dolomite beach in Manila.

The PNP chief reminded the public to strictly observe health protocols to sustain the downtrend in COVID-19 cases.

“An easing of restrictions does not mean we all can already freely go out and disregard health and safety protocols,” he pointed out. INQ