IN THE event the Luzonwide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is extended after April 30, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) expressed its readiness to implement any order coming from President Rodrigo Duterte.
Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, BCPO city director, said all security parameters are in place with regard to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and they will be activated depending on security measures applicable to the city to prevent the possible spread of the dreaded virus.
"We have contingency plans for any possibility if ever the ECQ may be extended. Our contingency plans consist of security measures for extreme community quarantine, a modified community quarantine and other security plans regarding this. All this would depend on the decision of our leaders on what security plans would be adoptable to our city after the Luzon wide community quarantine," Co said.
BCPO noted an 80 percent drop in crime during the month-long implementation of the ECQ.
From April 19 to 21, more than 100 individuals, which include 63 violators of the intensified 24-hour curfew and the provisions set under the ECQ, were arrested.
Violators were made to stay at the holding areas set up by BCPO for six hours and lectured on the importance of why they need to stay at home.
"They were made to stay there for six hours and they underwent mug shot proceedings which is part of the booking procedures of the police, they now have a record for violating the curfew and the ECQ provisions. I am addressing this to those minimal number of violators, the BCPO has the option to file cases against them of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, as well as the presidential proclamation declaring a state of national emergency," the city director stated.
The filing of cases will be done after the ECQ to prevent possible spread of Covid-19 in penitentiary facilities.
Meanwhile, the City Mayor's Office suspended the issuance of travel order permit starting April 23.
"It was decided by the Mayor's Office to suspend the issuance of travel order permit while honoring previous travel permits which will be good for the whole duration of the ECQ. Among those that we are honoring are the IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) cards, Department of Agriculture food pass, special permit from the Mayor and from the BCPO. The special permit is more for the public utility vehicles," Co added.