MANILA, Philippines — At least 9,658 persons were accosted in the National Capital Region (NCR) for violating curfew and other protocols during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that started on Friday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said 4,394 persons violated the 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew in Metro Manila. Of this number, 1,235 were fined, 2,201 rendered community service and 353 were released after charges were filed against them. Another 605 violators were released with first-time offender warnings.
A total of 1,664 persons were apprehended for not wearing face masks and 1,379 for improperly wearing them.
Eleazar said at least 1,715 were caught either not wearing or improperly wearing face shields.
A total of 486 individuals were apprehended for disregarding physical distancing protocols. Ten were caught violating the prohibition on mass gatherings.
Ten more people were accosted for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
The national government placed the NCR under ECQ in an attempt to prevent the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant from spreading
“Our countrymen can expect that we will be more vigilant at quarantine control points, particularly in areas with high numbers of COVID-19 Delta variant cases,” Eleazar said in Filipino in a statement last night.
Heavy traffic at quarantine control points and super spreader events such as large crowds at vaccination sites were among the challenges police faced on the first day of the ECQ.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Olay told “The Chiefs” on One News/TV5 on Friday night that another challenge is that there are more authorized persons outside residence at night as industries involved in the manufacture and delivery of essential goods are allowed to operate, unlike last year’s ECQ periods.
Meanwhile, at least 10,853 other violators were apprehended in the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite.
Eleazar called on people to cooperate and practice discipline in observing health protocols during the ECQ, which will end on Aug. 20.