A reminder to always wear face masks is printed on a huge tarpaulin that is hung from a pedestrian skywalk along ML Quezon National Highway in Lapu-Lapu City. | CDN Digital file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) is reminding the public to still follow the health protocols when going around the city even while under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Police Colonel Clarito Baja made this statement as 411 individuals were arrested and penalized by the LLCPO since September 1, 2020, for violating the quarantine protocols.
Baja said that they expected a rise in the number of violators when the city shifted to a more relaxed MGCQ status.
He noted that violators in the past week were those who thought that protocols and guidelines were eased due to the MGCQ status of the city.
“Ang quarantine pass gi require gihapon, wala man na usab. Ang curfew naa gihapon. Social distancing, the same pa rin. Miskan nag MGCQ ta, wala may na utro sa health safety protocol nato,” said Baja.
(Quarantine passes are still required, nothing changed. The curfew still stands. Social distancing, still the same. Even if we’re under MGCQ, nothing changed with the health safety protocol of the city.)
Of the 411 individuals, nine were arrested for not wearing face masks, 18 for violating the curfew hours, 118 for having no quarantine passes, and 258 for violating the vehicle coding system.
The areas with the most number of violators were those under the jurisdiction of Station 5 of the LLCPO. These include barangays Pusok, Ibo, Bangkal, and Buaya.
Baja said these number of violators are not alarming. He said it isn’t as high as compared to months in June to July, where they were able to apprehend at least 500 individuals in three days.
Still, Baja said they would just continue with patrolling different areas so people would constantly be reminded of the health protocols in the city.
Those apprehended were penalized P1,000 as what was required by a city ordinance for quarantine violatots. /bmjo