THE Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao reported a total of 700 violators who were apprehended in the entire region since the curfew was implemented on March 19 in the wake of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
From March 19 to 24, PRO Davao recorded that Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office (DNPPO) caught a total of 330 violators while Davao City Police Office captured 204, Davao Occidental PPO had 71, Davao Oriental PPO 70, Davao de Oro PPO 16 and Davao del Sur nine.
Of this number, 586 are adults while 114 are minors.
In the Resolution 2, Series of 2020 approved on March 17, Regional Task Force Covid-19 mandated all Local Legislative Councils of Davao Region to issue ordinances for a curfew to minimize the spread of the virus.
The daily curfew is implemented between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. However, there are exemptions to the rule. The movements of all persons outside curfew hours shall be limited to accessing basic necessities; buying food or medicines and access to essential health service or taking out the garbage and other essential activities such as medical and humanitarian reasons.
Exempted from the curfew are the employees of establishments providing basic necessities and such activities related to health services, food, and medicine production, i.e., public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies, and drug stores.
Also exempted are those working in food preparation and delivery services, water refilling stations, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies, and government accredited facilities; media personnel; persons transiting to and from work, provided they shall present necessary identification and certificate of employment.
PRO Davao regional director Police Brigadier General Filmore Escobal, meanwhile, reiterated to frontline officers who are enforcing the law to strictly observe the safety precautionary measures such as maintaining social distance, carrying a pocket alcohol, wearing of masks, hand gloves, face shields, use of 12-inch sticks in checking bags and frequent hand washing to prevent contracting the virus.
Escobal, however, expressed his disappointment that there are still Dabawenyos who continue to defy the policy indicated under the community quarantine despite countless reminders. He again requested the cooperation of the public to follow the measures set by the local government.
“Inuulit ko po ang aming panawagan sa publiko na manatili po inyong pamamahay at sumunod po sa batas. Hindi natin masusugpo ang pagkalat ng COVID 19 kung ito ay patuloy nating binibigyan ng pagkakataon na maipasapasa pa sa iba’t-ibang tao. Manatili po tayo sa ating mga tahanan, ito po ang mabisang paraan para di na lalo kumalat ang virus na yan,” Escobal said. (JCR)