Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29)— More than 42,000 people have been apprehended for violating curfew rules set under the Luzon-wide COVID-19 quarantine, officials said Sunday.
In a statement, the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield said a total of 42,826 curfew violators were listed in the first 11 days of the “enhanced” community quarantine from March 17 to 27.
Of this number, 12,094 came from Metro Manila, it added.
With the rising number of quarantine violations, the task force— composed of officials from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection— reiterated that the arrests and filing of charges against erring parties will continue.
PLtGen Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, said the Justice Department has already issued to prosecutors the general rules for the conduct of an “e-inquest”— or virtual inquest proceedings through online and video platforms.
Eleazar also renewed calls for the public to stay indoors and follow the quarantine protocols to help curb the spread of the infectious disease.
The Philippines has recorded 1,418 positive cases of COVID-19, as of the Health Department’s latest record. Seventy-one have died, while 42 recovered from the disease.
