MORE than 1,200 personnel of the Philippine National Police personnel were mobilized for law enforcement and public safety operations in 89 Quarantine Control Points established across Metro Manila as the Enhanced Community Quarantine took effect today until August 20 in the National Capital Region and four adjoining provinces.
Also, a total of 4,346 other PNP personnel will man Mobile Control Points in various locations in Metro Manila for implementation of uniform curfew hours.
“Nauunawaan namin ang sinasabing quarantine burnout na nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan subalit maling-mali ang pananaw na walang epekto ang mga paghihigpit na ito dahil ang mga public experts na mismo ang nag-rekomenda nito at kami mismo sa PNP ay napatunayan naming kung gaano ka-epektibo ito upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng virus,” said PNP Chief General Guillermo Eleazar.
“This security personnel are under strict instructions to ensure that public health protocols are observed and mass gatherings are disallowed,” the general said.
Citing the report of Lieutenant General Israel Ephraim Dickson, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and Commander of Joint Task Force Covid Shield, Eleazar said 7,337 police officers are now deployed in 2,745 vaccination centers while 4,877 are manning 2,535 quarantine areas.
In other areas outside the NCR Plus bubble, the PNP deployed 9,180 police personnel in 1,103 Quarantine Control Points.
“Despite the uphill battle against Covid-19 and surmounting challenges we are facing, the PNP remains resilient in assisting the government to quell the community transmission of the Delta variant. At bilang dating commander ng Joint Task Force COVID shield, hindi na bago sa inyong Pambansang Pulisya ang anumang uri ng quarantine restrictions kaya makakaasa ang lahat ng aming kahandaan sa anumang plano at ipag-uutos ng ating IATF at mga lokal na pamahalaan”, he said.
“Ngunit tayong lahat ay dapat kumilos para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng mas nakahahawang Delta variant. Bukod sa bakuna at pagsunod sa minimum public health safety standards, disiplina po ang kailangan ng bawat isa sa atin”, Eleazar further said.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said the implementation of strict border controls in the NCR+ areas is critical in stopping the spread of the Delta variant even as he warned that violators may be charged for non-cooperation under provisions of RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.