ASIDE from implementing pandemic protocols, government regulations, laws and other issuances related to the battle against the virus and its spread, law enforcement authorities are not complacent in enforcing other laws particularly those related to drug enforcement.
This was manifested through the series of raids and apprehensions of drug dealers, users and manufacturers collared by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the past weeks. It can be gleaned from the circumstances that drug pushers and users never stop in their trade and vice despite the present pandemic the world is facing.
Many have lost their jobs or their sources or livelihood, pushing them perhaps to engage in illegal activities such as drug peddling to make both ends meet. Others meanwhile are dying of boredom in their residences that they are lured to use illegal drugs to while away time. Both reasons do not justify though such illegal acts.
The efforts of the PNP and the PDEA proves that law enforcement is not halted by the pandemic and that they should even double their efforts in catching criminals who are taking the present health crisis as an opportunity to do their activities. Various drug enforcement activities which yielded some drug substances and apprehended those responsible for such are manifestations that there is no suspension of the law despite the onslaught of the Coronavirus Disease.
Law enforcement authorities have so far cornered big and small illegal drug makers, sellers and users in various places in the province. This is but proper and fitting as the government’s thrust today is focused on the fight against the virus.
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Some municipalities in Pampanga are now enjoining the use of face shield combined with face masks while in public places and even in workplaces as an added measure to avoid the spread of the virus. Despite the fact that face masks are now part of the new normal protective paraphernalia, the face shield has been proven to be of big help against getting infected or infecting others with the virus.
If only we can turn back the hands of time, the government should have earlier mandated the public with the use of the face mask and the face shield. These should have somehow slowed down if not totally stopped the spread of the unseen killer.
To date, the number of those getting infected each day increases. This only means that the government is not on its right track in doing its role to protect the citizenry from the virus. There are meanwhile, those who simply disobeying protocols despite the government’s implementation of measures against the pandemic.
The public should have to take note that the virus is still present and we cannot just discount or disregard various protective means to avoid the spread while any vaccine is yet available to assure our counter-measure against virus infection.
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