The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday reported that the number of quarantine violators reached 156,000 as of Day 46 of the lockdown, of which about a quarter were arrested.
Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the Task Force Covid-19 Shield commander, said the number of violators per day had not gone beyond 2,000, from 8,200 on March 17, because the PNP shifted “from just mere warning to arresting them.”
“Malaking significant compliance ang atin pong mga kababayan dahil din po iyan sa pagde-deploy natin nitong Highway Patrol Group para umikot-ikot, hanapin kung mayroong mga violation ng mga UPOR (Unauthorized Persons Outside Residence) na nasa sasakyan; at the same time, ito pong ating Special Action Force at mga sundalo na nagbabantay sa mga areas kung saan ay nandoon iyong prone to violation ng ating social distancing,” he said during the #LagingHandaPH public briefing.
Eleazar said those who were not arrested, about 106,000 persons, were issued warnings.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also reported that some 400 violators of laws against hoarding and profiteering had been arrested nationwide.
Lopez urged consumers to submit complaints through the consumer hotline 1384, and promised quick action. (PressONE.ph)