AMID their continuing call on the public to remain vigilant and strictly follow IATF health protocols designed to save them from the killer COVID-19 disease especially its Delta variant, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday said they have a main headache in NCR: nearly 6,000 violators of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) each day since last August 6.

Eleazar the number of violators of minimum public health safety standards and other government protocols apprehended by the PNP in the NCR Plus since last August 6 has reached the 40,000 mark with an average of 5,759 violators being accosted daily.

“Huwag na sanang maging pasaway lalo na’t nasa ECQ pa ang Metro Manila. Hindi tayo makababalik sa normal kung patuloy nating susuwayin ang mga quarantine protocols ngayong ECQ,” Gen. Eleazar said.

“Kung hindi man kayo nag-aalala para sa inyong sarili ay isipin ninyo ang inyong mga pamilya. Huwag ninyong ipagpalit ang kaligtasan ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay sa sandaling saya,” he added.

The total number of accosted violators from August 6 to August 12 is 134,606 if the accosted violators in the four adjoining provinces of Metro Manila—Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal, would be included—or a daily average of 19,229 accosted violators in NCR Plus.

The PNP also tallied 2,398 non-Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) violators in Metro Manila, averaging to 343 per day, while 3,228 Non-APOR Violators were sanctioned in NCR Plus averaging from 539 per day.

As soon as the Delta variant was monitored in the country last month, Gen. Eleazar immediately ordered the Administrative Support for Joint COVID-19 Task Force headed by PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Joselito M. Vera Cruz to prepare for worst-case scenarios to ensure the welfare of all policemen, especially those assigned on the ground.

The order came in the wake of the big number of ECQ violators being apprehended daily by members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) under Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. as they man 34 Quarantine Control Points in the metropolis.

“Since the start of the ECQ implementation in Metro Manila on August 6, your PNP has been accosting an average of 5,759 violators per day.

At mas mataas pa kung isasama natin ang mga violators naman sa apat na katabing probinsya ng National Capital Region,” Gen. Eleazar said.

Based on the data, the total number of violators would be 134,606 if the accosted violators in the four adjoining provinces of Metro Manila would be included—or a daily average of 19,229 accosted violators in NCR Plus.

The JTF COVID Shield headed by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Lieutenant Gen. Israel Ephraim T. Dickson also recorded the apprehension of 2,398 Unauthorized Persons Outside of Residence in Metro Manila or an average of 343 each day while overall, a total of 3,228 UPORs were sanctioned in NCR Plus averaging 539 per day.

“Let me reiterate then that the fight against the COVID-19 and all its variants is not only the government’s responsibility but is everybody’s obligation. Our first line of defense is to be mindful of our protection and that of our families,” Gen. Eleazar said.

Aside from NCR Plus, other provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao likewise stepped up in the implementation of a stricter quarantine due to the threat of the Delta Variant of COVID-19.

Gen. Eleazar cited a total of 231,856 violators in 1,243 QCPs nationwide manned by 10,986 detailed police.

On a nationwide data, a total of 12,272 non-APOR violators were also recorded—averaging 1,733 per day, he said.

Gen. Eleazar appealed to the public’s full cooperation with government’s health protocols. He also said that minors won’t be arrested for violating curfew hours and other health protocols in the streets but their parents and guardians would be admonished by authorities.

“Walang himala sa laban sa COVID at lalong hindi nakakatulong ang pagsasawalang-bahala kaya kung gusto nating mapadali ang normalisasyon at pagbangon ng ating bansa, umpisahan natin ito sa ating mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa mga alituntuning pang-kaligtasan at pagkakaroon ng hiya sa mas maraming mga Pilipinong sumusunod sa mga protocols na ito,” Gen. Eleazar said.