CEBU, Philippines — The Municipality of Dumanjug has lengthened its curfew hours to 12 hours following the spike of COVID-19 cases in the town.
The town has logged 19 new cases on January 25 bringing the total number of active cases to 30.
The 12-hour curfew started yesterday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until February 1. Previously, the town imposed a nine-hour curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The local government of Dumanjug has urged the public to follow the health protocols to stop the rise of cases.
Authorized persons
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office is verifying the veracity of the complaints of some authorized personnel outside of residence (APORs) who were arrested during the curfew hours despite showing their certificate of employment.
“We will ask our personnel kung naa sila na-encounter ana nga incident, kung tinuod ba gyud,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy chief for operations,
He added that they will investigate the said incident if proven to be true.
“Dili na pwede labi na kung padulong motrabaho,” he stressed.
Joshua Lee Munoz, one of those who were rounded-up Monday night, alleged that most of them were on the way to work when they were caught by the police.
In his Facebook post, Munoz said police personnel confiscated their licenses and did not bother to look at their COEs.
“In my experience, the police did not even look at our COEs. It was like a tricked in going with them to Tejero because they said our licenses will be released right away after processing,” said Munoz.
Instead of releasing them after filling out the forms as what the police had promised, Munoz said around 100 individuals including him were held for 12 hours at Tejero Gym.
He said he will not be surprised if there is a spike in Covid-19 cases in the city citing the way how the authorities handled the detainees adding that they are putting more people at risk for holding them in one place for several hours.
Munoz stressed that the city government does not have proper health protocols at the holding facility considering that there was no social distancing.
However, he clarified that he was just asking authorities to give APORs a chance to present their documents.
Parilla reiterated that not every APOR are allowed to loiter at anytime.
“Sa atong giingon nga dili ta tanang APOR, allowed magsuroy-suroy anytime. So mao nang atong mga COE sa atong mga APOR naka-indicate nga unsang orasa sila motrabaho. Like mohatag man tag leeway like for example motrabaho sila, 8-5, so dapat maximum alas 8 or alas 9, nakauli na sila kay kun ilang trabaho alas 5 unya naabtan pa gihapon silag alas 11 alas 12 sa gabie, so, dili nana siya excuse,” said Parilla.
He said it is not an excuse when an APOR is caught loitering or having drinking sessions beyond curfew hours at the time stated on their COE.
“Dili excuse nga bisan og ingon ani ilang oras sa trabaho pero naa sila diha nag-inom, lingcod-lingkod. Just like sa nahitabo atong mga doctors nga dili na excused nga APOR ka pwede na ka magsuroy-suroy anytime nga molapas ka especially sa violation sa curfew. Kun ingon-ana imohang duty unya mogawas ka alas 5 sa hapon, unya naabtan ka og curfew sa kalsada, naa ka sa mga establishment, so that is a violation,” he said.
Violators
In Lapu-Lapu City, eight residents were arrested for playing volleyball which violated the Inter-Agency Task Force guidelines that prohibit contact sports.
Mayor Junard Chan said since the eight failed to pay the fine, they were made to undergo community service by cleaning the Hoopsdome comfort rooms.
Under the mayor’s executive order, all those who are arrested for violating the health and safety protocols will be fined P1,000.
The mayor also reminded his constituents that the COVID-19 virus is still around and everyone must cooperate and adhere to the minimum health and safety standards.
Last Monday, Chan ordered law enforcers to patrol areas where the public converge and apprehend those who are not wearing facemask, who don’t have quarantine passes and those who do not practice social distancing.
The number coding for private vehicles and quarantine passes will be strictly enforced.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only odd (1-3-5-7-9) ending plate numbers and Q passes are allowed to travel and even (0-2-4-6-8) ending plate numbers and Q passes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Number coding in both Q passes and plate numbers are suspended on Sundays while curfew remains from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, GMR (FREEMAN)