Security measures to go on in the province under MGCQ

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Province will not downgrade its security measures even if it transitions to the more relaxed Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), said Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) director.

Following the release of the executive order that Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued detailing the MGCQ guidelines, Mariano has reminded the public that the problem on COVID-19 is not yet solved, thus the security details installed will remain.

"Sa atin susundin natin kung ano yung nakasaad sa IATF guidelines about sa MGCQ, alam natin na luluwag pero hindi pa naman kami nag da-downgrade ng aming QPCs (Quarantine Control Points).  Ganun pa rin kami, yung patrol natin....hindi pa tapos ang problema natin sa COVID, kailangan pa rin naming gawin yun," said Mariano in a press briefing yesterday.

The establishments and tourism activities that will be able to get a clearance to operate, according to Mariano, will be consistently monitored by the tourist police to ensure that the standard health protocols are followed.

Mariano said they have already conducted an initial meeting with the Department of Tourism and Department of Health as they gear up for their reopening.

As to the border checkpoints, Mariano said this will remain as it is, since this is among of the PNP's best practices especially in terms on the fight against criminality. He added border checkpoints have contributed the most in the lowering of the criminality rate in Cebu.

"Maaring yan ang ating magiging best practice na ipagpatuloy natin yan, kaya kailangan talaga ang disiplina ng tao at kooperasyon nila," he added.

Among those that will also be closely monitored during the MGCQ is the illegal cockfighting, commonly known as "tigbakay.” This has been first brought up by the governor, warning barangay officials to not let these activities happen under their watch.

It was reported that several tigbakay events had happened in some areas of Cebu, where even barangay captains and officials were charged for their involvement in these illegal activities.  GAN (FREEMAN)