SOME 619 individuals were arrested in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for violating the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which started March 15.

Police Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO-COR) data shows Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) recorded the most number of arrested individuals with 177 followed by Benguet Provincial Police Office (PPO) with 137, while Mountain Province recorded 78, and Abra with 37.

At least 717 operations were conducted by PRO-COR resulting to the arrest of 165 individuals for hoarding, profiteering, overpricing of medical supplies and essential goods.

Mt. Province police arrested 97 followed by BCPO with 67 while Benguet had one.

All local government and law enforcement units in the region started imposing strict curfew hours to force the public to stay in their homes to prevent the massive spread of Covid-19.

Chiefs of police in the region were ordered to strictly supervise the inspection of all enhanced community quarantine control points to ensure the strict implementation is carried out.

“Police will enforce the law as public health is the priority of the enhanced community quarantine,” PRO-COR regional director Brigadier General R’win Pagkalinawan said.

Pagkalinawan added PRO-COR continues to appeal to the public for its full cooperation and encourages everyone to stay calm and to stay at home.

“Your police force and other units are doing all it can to protect everyone from this deadly virus, but we need your outmost cooperation to protect and fight this virus,” Pagkalinawan added.