More soldiers fielded in virus-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will deploy additional troops in Metro Manila and other areas where cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 are high to help police implement the enhanced community quarantine, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday.

Lorenzana said the soldiers are being fielded to work hand in hand with the Philippine National Police.

“I ordered the AFP chief of staff to deploy more troops in Metro Manila and other places with high COVID-19 cases to assist the police to strictly implement social distancing and quarantine measures,” he said.

Lorenzana said the trend of COVID-19 cases daily would determine whether the enhanced community quarantine would be extended beyond April 30 or if a total lockdown described by President Duterte as a martial law type is necessary.

“The last days of April are crucial in the decision-making process. We should see a downward trend of COVID-19 cases to warrant a partial lifting or continue with the Luzon-wide lockdown if the trend continues to go up” Lorenzana explained.

The enhanced community was supposed to end on April 14. But President Duterte extended the lockdown to April 30.

Lorenzana expressed concern about too many people out in groups in supermarkets, streets and other public places.

“These sights do not inspire confidence that we will achieve our objective by end of this month,” he said.