THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will continue its checkpoint operations in the city's boundaries as long as the city is under the community quarantine.
This was stressed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, on Monday, June 1, after Bacolod City was already placed under modified community quarantine (MGCQ) effective June 1 to 15.
Pico said policemen will continue to monitor the city's boundaries along Barangay Sum-ag, Mansilingan Road-Murcia, Barangays Bata, Granada and Handumanan.
"We will ensure that our people are complying the health protocols like the mandatory wearing of face mask and physical distancing to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19)," he said.
He said several policemen were also deployed to various terminals and public markets to monitor and arrest the health protocol violators.
Pico noted that since last week, hundreds of violators were arrested for not wearing of face mask in public places and not observing physical distancing.
Pico also asked the cooperation of the public to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19.
On May 31, 169 violators were arrested by personnel of Police Stations 1 to 10 along with the operations of Mobile Patrol Group and Bacolod City Mobile Force Company for not wearing face mask and not observing physical distancing.
Last week, the City Council already approved on third and final reading an ordinance requiring mandatory use of face mask and observance of social distancing in all public places in Bacolod during the emergency caused by Covid-19 pandemic and providing penalties thereof.
The ordinance was authored by Council Archie Baribar, chairperson of the City Council committee on senior citizens and veterans affairs.
The violators will be fined of P200 or eight hours community service in the barangay where he resides within the next 24 hours from his apprehension. If he is not a resident of Bacolod City, he shall be penalized with a fine of P300.