PNP reminds cops: Exercise maximum tolerance on face shield violators

PLASTIC PROTECTION Commuters with face masks and
face shields ride a bus in Quezon City. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) reminded its personnel on Tuesday to exercise “maximum tolerance” and avoid imposing sanctions against violators of the mandatory wearing of face shields.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar issued the reminder after President Rodrigo Duterte heeded experts’ advice to make the use of face shields mandatory to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

“Nakikiusap po tayo sa publiko na igalang at sumunod sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo tungkol sa pagsusuot ng face shields. Para po ito sa kaligtasan ng lahat lalo na’t may dumagdag po sa bilang ng nakitaan ng Delta variant sa bansa,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(We ask the public to respect and follow our President’s directive on wearing face shields. This is for the safety of everyone, especially since there has been an increase in the number of Delta variants detected in the country.)

“Ayon sa ating mga eksperto, hindi biro ang variant na ito at kailangan talagang magdoble ingat tayo,” he added.

(According to our experts, this variant is not a joke and we really need to be more careful.)

Eleazar likewise asked PNP officers to strictly follow the rules on wearing of face shields.

“Ang instruction ko lang sa mga kapulisan natin ay sumunod din sa ganitong patakaran dahil anong magiging kredibilidad natin niyan sa panghuhuli kung tayo mismo ay hindi sinusunod ito,” he said.

(My only instruction to our policemen is to also follow this policy because what will be our credibility to arrest if we ourselves do not follow it.)

So far, the Department of Health said that there are already 17 COVID-19 Delta variant cases that have been detected in the Philippines. This is the coronavirus variant first reported in India which is believed to be more transmissible.

EDV