PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar has ordered the deployment of more police officers to strictly enforce health protocols following the detection of local Delta variant cases.
Eleazar said all police commanders were directed to intensify police patrols and coordinate with barangay officials in monitoring possible super spreader events.
He said the police chiefs should determine the number of additional men needed and deploy them immediately to secure public locations and other establishments in their areas of responsibility.
The PNP Maritime Group, meanwhile, was ordered to strengthen intelligence monitoring and regular patrolling on the shores, particularly in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, to prevent the illegal entry of travelers from Indonesia and other neighboring countries.
Indonesia is among the countries covered by a travel ban until July 31, 2021 because of the high number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
Travelers from Indonesia and Malaysia usually enter the Philippines through Mindanao.
“Local police forces and the Maritime Group have been tasked to coordinate with other government agencies like the Local Government Units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, in order to come up with tight measures to seal the Mindanao areas from illegal entry of people from neighboring countries,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar also urged the public to avoid crowded areas and mass gatherings, and always wear face masks and face shields.
Año earlier warned that local chief executives will be made to answer for the violations of health and safety protocols in their areas of jurisdiction.
He said quarantine rules should always be strictly implemented in the wake of the reported local cases of the Delta variant, the most contagious variant of Sars-CoV-2. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)