PNP: Report quarantine violators on Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a Facebook account where the public can directly report blatant violations of quarantine  protocols that they would monitor on social media platforms, an official said yesterday.

PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the Facebook account named after the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, which he heads, will be a repository of violations on quarantine guidelines set by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Among these are uploaded photographs and videos of people partying and drinking, prohibited during the community quarantine, which netizens can send to the account.

“All they need to do is to send us the photos and videos and we will take care of the rest,” he said in a statement.

Eleazar earlier instructed police officers to constantly monitor social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram for quarantine violators.

He said citizens can also tag their Facebook page or send the evidence they have gathered through a private message.

“The photos and videos that would be sent will be used as a basis in the verification of the police in coordination with the local government units concerned,” Eleazar said.

He assured the public that the identity and other information of those who would report quarantine violations on social media will be protected.

At least 382,000 individuals were accosted for allegedly violating quarantine protocols since March. Of the number, around 157,500 were warned while 122,900 were fined.

The rest, considered repeat offenders, were jailed and charged in court.

Barangay defense

The PNP also launched yesterday a barangay defense program to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and fight crime.

Dubbed the Barangay COVID Defense or BACOD, referring to the Filipino word for fence, the program will have five to six barangays grouped into one cluster under the PNP’s Patrolya ng Bayan- Barangay Enforcement Teams.

Barangay officials belonging to these teams will assist police officers in ensuring that minimum health standards protocols are strictly observed by citizens.

They will also conduct patrols and assist in contact tracing to locate COVID-19 patients and bring them to isolation facilities.

The teams will also help local governments in promoting livelihood programs like urban gardening and backyard farming in the community.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the program could also be used to fight terrorism and communism.