By Pearl Gumapos
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has tasked police chiefs to deploy more police officers in public areas to prevent mass gatherings that may be considered superspreader events.
Eleazar issued the directive after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said he will require the PNP and other law enforcers to strengthen their visibility in public places to ensure that health protocols are observed and mass gatherings are prevented.
“Batay sa order ng ating DILG [Sec.], Eduardo Año, inatasan ko na ang lahat ng police commanders sa buong bansa na lalong paigtingin ang pakikipag-tulungan sa mga barangay sa pag-iikot at pagbabantay laban sa mga superspreader events sa gitna ng banta ng Delta variant ng COVID-19,” Eleazar said in a press release.
Eleazar said police chiefs must determine how many more men are needed to secure public locations and other establishments in their areas of responsibility, and deploy them immediately.
The PNP chief said enforcing health protocols should be done jointly by the police and the local officials, especially barangay workers.
“Binabalaan ko din ang mga organizer ng mga aktibidad na ito na walang pasensyahang magaganap kapag kayo ay nahuling lumalabag, dahil sisiguruduhin namin na patong-patong na kaso ang kakaharapin ninyo,” he said.
“Mas gugustuhin ko pa na kamuhian ninyo ako sa paghihigpit sa mga superspreader event, kaysa sabay-sabay tayong maghakot at magsunog ng mga bangkay na gaya ng nangyari sa India nang dahil sa katigasan ng ulo at pagsasawalang-bahala ng kaligtasan ninyo,” he added.
Meanwhile, Año warned that local chief executives will be made to take responsibility for the violations of health and safety protocols in their areas.
After local cases were recorded in the country, Año said quarantine rules should always be strictly implemented.
Eleazar assured the public that the PNP will closely coordinate with the national government to determine how law enforcers could further strengthen the implementation of quarantine guidelines. – jlo
