SAF troopers to remain even amid possible GCQ

CEBU, Philippines —  Even as Cebu City may be placed under general community quarantine, the more than a hundred members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police will remain in their posts in the city.

Ret. Major General Melquiades Feliciano, deputy chief implementer of Inter-Agency Task Force in Cebu, said that should the city will transition to GCQ, the areas placed under granular lockdown will remain guarded.

Feliciano joined Police Regional Office-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro in a press briefing yesterday.

“Kung nga GCQ man, merong din syang mga granular or zoning or lockdown and, hopefully, kung mag-GCQ man, we can specifically determine yung presence ng virus, para mas specific yung pag-lock down,” said Feliciano.

He added that if infected areas are determined, it will be more “manageable” in terms of providing appropriate intervention.

The SAF troopers will still be asked to keep their posts in the barangays or sitios placed under lockdown.

“Doon sila magfo-focus kasin doon talaga yung dapat i-concentrate natin,” said Feliciano

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu previously mentioned that he is confident that Cebu City may be downgraded to GCQ by July 16 as the situation here has improved.

“Although maluwag siya, ang pinakaimportante dyan ay maiwasan natin yung spread. Ang ang isa pa sa dapat nating gawin ay ma-put in place yung gusto nating sistema. Luluwag siya pero safety yung movement ng mga tawo,” Feliciano said.

The SAF members were deployed in Cebu City starting June 26 to help the PRO-7 cops in the implementation of the ECQ guidelines.  JMD (FREEMAN)