THE Philippine National Police has arrested a total of 17,039 persons for violating the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to 29.
Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy chief for operations and head of Task Force CVShield, said 7,627 were arrested in Luzon while 2,521 were arrested in Metro Manila. The rest were from various provinces across the country.
He said 48,273 people were let go after a warning while 3,777 individuals were fined.
Overall, the report showed that 69,089 people violated the guidelines of the enhanced community quarantine, particularly the curfew, which is essentially 24 hours to keep the people in their homes.
Earlier, Eleazar said the PNP will be a “little lenient” in enforcing the curfew after local government executives made an appeal because of the lack of detention facilities.
He said the arrest of curfew violators will continue but they will no longer be detained as the charges against them will be pursued when the ECQ is lifted.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine as a measure to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Other provinces have also imposed localized quarantine measures and borders controls.
Under an enhanced community quarantine, public transport systems are suspended, food and health services are regulated, and more uniformed men are deployed to encourage the people to stay in their homes.
Only the health workers, those working in businesses involved in food, medicines and other essential products and services, and other essential personnel are allowed to venture out of their homes.
Only one person per household is allowed to go out for supplies.
As of 4 p.m. March 30, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country has climbed to 1,546, with 78 deaths. A total of 42 patients have recovered. (SunStar Philippines)