THE police apprehended 270 people who violated community quarantine protocols in the first two days of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status in Cebu City.

Interior areas of barangays are the next target of the police officers.

Of the apprehended people on Aug. 1-2, 2021, 23 were minors, 205 violated the curfew, 65 were not wearing masks in public, and five were drinking in public, said Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy director for operation.

Cebu City is placed under MECQ until Aug. 15 as its Covid-19 cases are increasing.

Parilla said the CCPO will give its assessment to Acting Mayor Michael Rama after Aug. 3.

Aside from patrolling the main thoroughfares, CCPO Director Col. Josefino Ligan has ordered his personnel to conduct patrols in sitios with the help of tanods, civilian volunteers from Task Force Kasaligan and the military from Central Command.

Barangays with high number of cases will be closely monitored.

The CCPO will also deploy a vehicle with a public announcement system to remind the public to wear masks and observe social distancing.

The CCPO has started to reprimand jeepney and bus drivers who overloaded their public utility vehicles (PUVs) with passengers. On Wednesday, Aug. 4, Parilla said the CCPO will apprehend drivers and passengers in overcrowded PUVs. (AYB / KAL)