Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) — Crime incidence in the country dropped by more than a half during the enhanced community period, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said on Wednesday.
There had been a 61 percent decline in the number of crimes in the country amid the lockdown, according to PLt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the said task force in a Laging Handa virtual press briefing.
From 8,204 incidents recorded from January to March prior to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period, the number went down to 3,220 within the lockdown, data released by the Philippine National Police indicated.
“Nakita po natin for the past 57 days, ito’y mino-monitor natin, na kinumpara natin dun sa last 57 days bago ang ating ECQ na bumaba po ng 66% ang krimen sa Luzon, 58% sa Visayas, at 51% naman sa Mindanao,” he added.
[Translation: We saw that for the past 57 days, crime went down by 66% in Luzon, 58% in Visayas, and 51% in Mindanao compared to 57 days before the ECQ (was implemented).]
Police and military personnel have maximized their deployment particularly in areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases to enforce quarantine protocols.
“[N]akita po natin na dahil sa ating pinatutupad na ito pati na rin ang ating pagbabantay sa mga lugar kung saan permitted na lumabas sila o mag-operate eh nakatulong po yun sa pagbaba ng krimen, lalong-lalo na itong curfew natin,” explained Eleazar.
[Translation: We observed that measures we put in place including our patrolling of areas where people are allowed to go out or (businesses are allowed to) operate helped bring down crime, especially our curfew.]
He added that the imposition of curfew also lessens the window of opportunity for criminals to commit misdeeds.
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Despite the reduction of crime incidents, the Department of Interior and Local Government still ordered the PNP to remain vigilant in enforcing the law with many areas transitioning to general community quarantine and its modified counterpart.
“Mas matindi ang inaasahang pagpapairal ng batas sa panahon ng GCQ dahil nariyan pa rin ang banta ng coronavirus at samahan pa ng mga masasamang-loob na wala rin namang pinipiling panahon at krisis,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday.
[Translation: A stricter enforcement of the law is expected within the GCQ period because of the coronavirus threat coupled with those having bad intentions, as they don’t mind what time or crisis (they strike).]
Metro Manila, Laguna province, and Cebu City are placed under modified enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to May 31.
General community quarantine (GCQ) is in place for moderate-risk areas, while low-risk areas are placd under modified GCQ.
READ: COVID-19 task force backtracks, places low-risk areas under modified GCQ
