PNP deploys 10,000 cops to secure Metro, ensure strict compliance with anti-COVID measures

A total of 10,000 policemen have been deployed to secure Metro Manila as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) intensified its campaign to strictly implement measures against COVID-19 in the metropolis.

NCRPO director Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao said part of the intensified measures is a more

strict security check for those entering at the border control points of Metro Manila from Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles labeled as fake news the rumors circulating that Metro Manila will revert to the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for the holidays as the government's pandemic task force is yet to meet again.

In a radio interview Sunday afternoon, Nograles said that the rumors are far from the truth.

"Fake news na fake news po 'yan... Wala pong katotohanan. Napakalayo sa katotohanan (That is fake news. There's no truth to that. That is far from the truth)," he told Super Radyo DZBB.

Nograles, who co-chairs the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, explained the collegial body only makes their recommendations about quarantine classifications at the end of the month.

"Ang ginagawa namin every month kami nagdedesisyon bago sumapit yung buwan (What we do is we make a decision every month before the next month comes)," he said.

Strict security

The strict security measures at the borders of Metro Manila, according to Danao, are complemented with aggressive anti-crime measures in all areas of the metropolis, especially those which have a history of being hiding places and operational areas of criminal elements.

“This is not only about health protocol implementation. This is also about anti-criminality measures especially against terrorism,” said Danao.

Criminal activities are always expected to rise during the Christmas season and health experts have been warning that the complacency of the people during the holiday season may lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases, especially in Metro Manila.

“The threat is still there, we should not become too complacent and this is why we have to be strict again,” said Danao.

The strict implementation of the health protocols confirms a police document purportedly under the instruction of Lt. Col. Hansel Marantan, NCRPO intelligence division head, based on the order of Danao about the alleged covert deployment on the proper implementation of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila.

Based on the document, among those which will be strictly implemented are wearing of face masks and face shields in public places and other places of convergence, physical distancing, the required capacity in

shopping malls and other areas where people frequently go to during Christmas, observance of one seat apart in public utility vehicles, and prohibition of minors in shopping malls.

The document was issued to all district directors of Metro Manila on Dec. 19.

IATF meeting

Nograles said the IATF will meet after Christmas to decide on the quarantine classifications for January, 2021.

"Siguro by December 31 may desisyon na naman ang Pangulo para sa Enero. Ganun po yun. Month by month na po kami (President Duterte will make his decision for January 2021 by December 31. That's how it works. We do it per month)," Nograles said.

Localized lockdown

However, despite the prevailing quarantine classifications for this month, Nograles said that local government units (LGUs) may place certain areas in their jurisdiction under lockdown.

"Depende na 'yan sa LGUs kung maglo-localize [lockdown] sila (It depends on the LGUs if they will have localized lockdowns)," he said.

"Yung localized lockdown, streetlevel lang yun, or purok-level or barangay-level. Hindi region-level (The localized lockdown will only be street-, purok-, or barangay-level and not regional)," he added.