Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the PNP will continue to strictly enforce minimum public health standards and safety protocols should the National Capital Region be placed under Alert Level 2.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has said mayors in Metro Manila are prepared for a shift to Alert Level 2 by November, given the deployment of more police personnel and the ramped-up vaccination against COVID-19.
Eleazar assured that the easing of the alert level in Metro Manila will not make police personnel complacent in enforcing the minimum public health standards.
“Anuman ang alert level na ipapatupad, laging nakahanda ang inyong PNP upang ipatupad ang mga alituntunin para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” Eleazar said.
Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 3 until Sunday ( Oct. 31), which the government said could be downgraded further depending on the number of COVID-19 infections in the region.
The Metro Manila Council and the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) are yet to recommend on whether or not the alert level will be downgraded starting next month.
“Subalit ang pinakamahalaga pa rin ay ang pakiki-isa ng ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa minimum public health safety protocols at ang pagiging mapagmatyag, at tapang na paalahahanan hindi lamang ang mga lumalabag kung hindi pati na rin ang mga ahensya na nagpapatupad ng mga alituntuning ito, kabilang ang inyong PNP,” Eleazar said.
“Walang pakialam ang coronavirus sa mga alert level na ito, kaya tayong mga biktima na lang ang mag-adjust sa pamamagitan ng tamang pagsunod ng mga patakaran sa kaligtasan at kami naman sa PNP ay laging tutulong upang ipaalala ito sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Among their measures, according to Eleazar, is to ensure that there is a sufficient number of police officers to help enforce the minimum public health and safety protocols especially in public and leisure areas.
The PNP chief pointed out, “We will not only be enforcing health protocols but we will also enhance crime prevention efforts.”
He explained that eased restrictions mean that more people will be going outdoors and more persons for criminals to possibly prey upon. (PNP-PIO) – jlo
