Five hundred Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, 50 SWAT members, and 150 men from the Army are currently deployed for the 48-hour hard lockdown in Sampaloc, Manila. The personnel are authorized to reprimand, bring to temporary custodial centers, and file cases against violators of the said lockdown.
Manila Police District (MPD) District Director PBGEN. Rolando Fernandez Miranda said they will file cases if the violators remain hard-headed. He added the PNP will implement maximum tolerance.
The deployed police personnel will only use taser guns for those who will refuse to abide by the law. The device can shoot people up to a 20 feet distance. The police are also allowed to bring sticks and handcuffs while on patrol. Only the SWAT team is required to remain armed. Medical health workers, policemen, and residents with health emergency are exempted from the lockdown.
There are currently 108 COVID-19 positive and 127 suspected cases in Sampaloc.
Meanwhile, the General Licerio Elementary School is ready to handle rapid testing on Friday through the help of the Ospital ng Maynila and the Department of Health (DOH). The testing will be for asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals who had close contact with positive cases of COVID-19 in Sampaloc, Manila. – Report from Louisa Erispe
