Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23) — The joint police task force for COVID-19 has ordered the deployment of one policeman in every barangay dedicated to ensure the strict enforcement of community quarantine measures, such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.
The policeman will serve as “quarantine rules supervisor,” the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said in a statement on Thursday.
Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, head of the task force, cited complaints that residents have started being complacent, with reports that some are going out without face masks and even gather for drinking sessions or gossiping.
“This fight must be brought to the community level and the best way to do it is to make the presence of the police felt in every barangay, especially in areas where Coronavirus infection is high,” Eleazar said.
If police forces are not enough to cover all barangays in a city or municipality, barangays can be clustered or the help of local military forces can be tapped.
Eleazar said he’s now coordinating with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año who supervises local government units.
He also expressed support for Año’s proposed uniform rules which include jail time of up to 30 days and a fine of up to ₱5,000 for quarantine violators.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte asked the police “to be more strict,” and arrest quarantine violators “to give them a lesson for all time.” He also appealed to local government officials to take more effort in punishing residents for disregarding simple health protocols such as wearing masks and observing physical distancing, which he called “serious crimes” as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
The country has recorded more than 72,000 coronavirus infections as the government eased quarantine measures to reopen the economy. Local government units are enforcing localized lockdowns in high-risk areas.
