1 thousand cops, AFP men deployed in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  Almost a thousand personnel from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 and the Central Command (CentCom) were deployed to Cebu City for the intensified patrol and to arrest the violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The send-off ceremony of the personnel was done at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday morning.

CCPO Director Josefino Ligan said about 800 police personnel were an augmentation from PRO-7 as part of the Crisis Response Battalion, while the CentCom had sent 60 of its men to help.

The team was asked to monitor the interior barangays and to warn the residents who will be caught not following the social distancing order and the mandatory wearing of facemask.

“Ang bulk ani sa deployment kay foot patrol adto ni sila ibutang sa mga interior barangays para mobadlong ug mopahimangno sa mga tawo sa social distancing, wearing of facemask para ma-observe sa katawhan,” Ligan told reporters.

He also warned those who will resist and defy the executive order of the mayor will be brought to the police station and will face charges.

Ligan clarified that they have already barred police personnel from roving inside Barrio Luz due to the risk involved.

The cops will just be strictly manning the entrance and exit points of the sitio.

“Wala na tay gibutang didto nga police nga mag-patrolya.  Ang atong kapulisan naa na naka-deploy sa perimeter sa Zapatera mismo,” he said.

Meanwhile, PRO-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro had expressed that they will be now strictly implementing the protocols of ECQ.

“We are just following the instruction of our Chief PNP and the president that we will strictly implement social distancing, mandatory facemasks, especially that we have critical areas now here in Cebu City. Because a lot of people that we detained are really not following the directive of enhanced quarantine,” Ferro said.

Ferro also called on the public as well as the residents of Sitio Zapatera in Barrio Luz to stay calm and that the government is in control of the situation.  GAN (FREEMAN)