THE police expressed its readiness in case the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) should enforce a hard lockdown to curb any possible surge in COVID-19 cases.
This was the assurance given by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar, as Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) Vince Dizon said the national government is open to imposing a hard lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
The business sector has agreed to the proposed measure.
“Hindi na bago sa inyong PNP ang anumang uri ng quarantine restrictions kaya makakaasa ang lahat ng aming kahandaan kung ano man ang ipag-uutos ng ating IATF at mga lokal na pamahalaan,” said PGen. Eleazar.
Independent OCTA Research group suggested a “circuit-breaker” lockdown in Metro Manila after the region recorded an average of almost 1,000 cases daily amid the threat of the more infectious Delta variant.
But even before the proposal, the PNP Chief has already ordered all police commanders to continue implementing the quarantine rules issued by the IATF.
He also tasked them to closely coordinate with local government units for possible adjustments in quarantine measures.
PGen Eleazar, however, said that the key to effective prevention on the spread of COVID-19 is the cooperation of the public.
“Subalit naniniwala ako na hindi na aabot pa sa anumang klaseng paghihigpit kung isasapuso lang ng ating mga kababayan ang pangangalaga sa kanilng personal na kaligtasan sa gitna ng patuloy na banta ng COVID-19 lalo na ngayon na patuloy na tumataas ang mga kaso ng Delta variant nito,” said PGen. Eleazar.
“Ganunpaman, patuloy na ginagawa ng inyong kapulisan ang kanilang tungkulin na ipatupad ang mga alituntunin para sa proteksyon ng lahat,” he added.
He said he already directed police chiefs to prepare the deployment plan of their personnel, especially in areas where there were recorded cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant.