‘Red teams, marshals’: Cascolan charts plan for strict lockdown rules enforcement

MANILA, Philippines — As newly-designated Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan assumes the post on Wednesday, he is faced with a big responsibility of not only ensuring peace and order across the country but also enforcing coronavirus quarantine protocols nationwide.

Cascolan, who prior to his appointment as national police’s top boss has been leading PNP’s Administrative Support to COVID-19 Operations Task Force (ASTF), said he already intensified the deployment of policemen to ensure health protocols are being followed.

For one, he said, police “marshals” have been sent out to oversee observance of health protocols inside public and private transport.

“Actually, pinaigtingan ko po ang tinatawag nating marshalling ng mga transport vehicles such as public. Of course, may mga marshalling din ang private. ‘Yan ang mga kapulisan, kasama po sa pagigting ng social distancing, pagsuot ng mask, face shield sa public transport,” Cascolan said over ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

(Actually, I intesified what we call marshalling of transport vehicles such as public transport. Of course, we also have marshalls for private vehicles. Our police officers are tasked to promote social distancing, wearing of face mask and face shields in public transport.)

Cascolan likewise said police “red teams” have been deployed to monitor police officers implementing lockdown rules.

“‘Yung red teams. tinitignan po natin ‘yung mga pulis natin kung tama ang ginagawa nila. (The red teams look after police officers to make sure they are doing their jobs.),” he said.

Cascolan further said he has ordered policemen under barangay enforcement teams to strictly implement COVID-19 lockdown rules in communities.

“At the same time, pina-establish ko ang barangay enforcement team… ang gagawin po natin i-enhance natin, dapat nakikita po natin ang kapulisan na umiikot sa bawat barangay para makita kung sinusunod ba ang protocols,” he said.

(At the same time, I ordered the establishment of a barangay enforcement team. We will enhance this, police officers should patrol villages to ensure that protocols are being obeyed.)

Aside from these duties, ASTF also augments the deployment of police officers for the Joint Task Force COVID Shield led by Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as well as the distribution of policemen under the medical reserve force, the stationing of policemen in quarantine facilities, and other logistical needs.

Cascolan’s predecessor, now-retired PNP Gen. Archie Gamboa, ordered the establishment of ASTF as part of preparations for the extended coronavirus lockdown in the country.

Gamboa reached mandatory retirement on Wednesday. Gamboa and Cascolan are “mistahs” as they both belong in the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986.

KGA

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