CCPO records 150 average protocol violators per day

CEBU, Philippines —  An average of 150 protocol violators were arrested per day in Cebu City, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office.

Parilla said that most violators are taken in mostly due to curfew violations and failure to wear face masks.

While comparing to the number of arrested violators in their previous patrol operations, which only reached around 50 to 60, Parilla said people might have become lax in following protocols because of many of them have already been vaccinated.

"Kinahanglan nga mobalik nasad ta sa atoang subsub gyud. Nagtuo nasab sila nga dili na matapdan once nga mavaccinan ka. So mao nay atoa na sab nga ibalik og awhag sa atoang katawhan nga bisan tuod og vaccinated na ta, dili na siya 100% guarantee nga dili ka matapdan," Parilla said.

Possible reimplementation of quarantine control points is yet to be considered depending on the outcome of the recommendation from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), according to Parilla.

In line with the surge of COVID-19 positive cases in the city, Parilla also said that he was informed by the EOC chief implementor Joel Garganera that they will be implementing a new policy with the guidelines regarding mass gatherings including any political rally.

"So wala nay mga tapok-tapok nga pagabuhaton, even if this is a political rally, regardless og asa sila nga grupo. But they should ask permission sa EOC, kay ang EOC maoy mo-approve so dapat ilahang ilatag sa EOC ang ilahang mga lagda, or guidelines or proyekto sa ilahang pagtapok-tapok aron ma-evaluate sa EOC kung angayan bang i-approve or dili," Parilla said.

As of July 21, 2021, there have been 158 new cases of COVID-19 in Cebu City with Barangay Guadalupe still having the most number of cases at 19, among 80 barangays.

Parilla assured that all COVID-19 positive patients are being extracted immediately and right now those with close contacts with the patients are being isolated and strictly monitored by the police and barangay tanod of the said area.

"So far kaya pa man sa atoang stations ang ilahang gidaghanon nga motabang sad sa mga tanod. Because ang Brgy. Guadalupe sad, ilaha sad gi-maximize tanan nilang mga barangay tanod and other force multipliers nga makatabang og bantay," Parilla added. — Brigida Ramos Gerzon, CNU Intern, GMR (FREEMAN)