Number of protocol violators in Cebu City rise anew

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has recorded an increase in the number of protocol violators anew in just three days.

This is after the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) ordered to strengthen the police security deployment around the city.

"Considering nga misaka na pud og balik ang atoang numbers of positive cases and then we are advised by the EOC to implement strictly again with these health protocols," said Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operations of CCPO.

In line with this, the local cops along with the force multipliers, Task Force Kasaligan, have conducted an Oplan Bulabog from Friday until Sunday.

This resulted in the apprehension of at least 493 violators which were mostly violators of the curfew ordinance. Out of these, a total of 57 were minors.

"Sa tanan na ni sya to include the establishments and mga interior portions of Cebu City," said Parilla.

Over this, Parilla said the violators have increased once again after having back the deployment of its personnel on the grounds to enforce the stricter security measures.

"For the last week, according to EOC, most of those who had tested positive were work-related ang atoang nag-positive kay mostly sa nagpa-swab kay requirement sa trabaho, and other is close contact with those who tested positive," said Parilla.

For this, Parilla said they will lean their deployment towards the focus of making sure that the ordinances and safety protocols against COVID-19 are properly implemented in the city.

He added this is also after the EOC has said that most of those who succumbed to COVID-19 recently were not only elderly but some youth as well.

"For the past two weeks of July, duna natay more than ten, unya ila sang nakita nga dili na mga senior citizen ang mga death nga recorded but mga batan-on na, so it's no longer the mga senior citizen," said Parilla.

As the Barangay Guadalupe holds the most increase of COVID-19 cases the past weeks, Parilla said they will also strengthen their deployment back in the area, specifically the TF Kasaligan.

Aside from this, Parilla also said they will be coordinating with the barangay captain to see if they could implement once again the granular lockdown on Sundays.

"We will coordinate with the Barangay Guadalupe captain kung unsa sad ilang mga strategy nga buhaton so that we can assist and support it," said Parilla. — GMR (FREEMAN)