PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Sunday called on the public to fully cooperate with authorities as they strictly implement the lengthened curfew hours in Metro Manila to help further fight the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

The decision to revert to the 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew hours, from 12 midnight to 4 a.m., was due to the threat of the Delta variant after the Department of Health confirmed cases of local transmission. At least 64 cases were already reported in the country in the past days.

Gen. Eleazar explained that longer curfew hours are necessary to help contain the spread of the Delta variant, described as more virulent based on what happened in India.

“Hindi na bago ang pagkakaroon ng mas mahabang curfew hours sa Metro Manila kaya inaasahan natin ang pagsunod ng ating mga kababayan sa patakarang ito. Sa ating mga kapulisan, inaasahan ko ang maayos na pagpapaliwanag at pakikitungo sa mga lalabag sa itinakdaang curfew hours, at inaasahan ko din ang pagrespeto ng ating mga kababayan sa patakarang ito at pati na rin sa mga taong nagpapatupad nito,” he added.

The PNP chief also expressed confidence that the decision for longer curfew hours would no longer result in arrests and other unnecessary confrontations between the violators and people enforcing the rule, including policemen and barangay tanod.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. has been tasked to strictly enforce longer curfew hours in the metropolis.

“Kung isasaisip natin ang kaligtasan natin at ng ating pamilya, naniniwala ako na hindi na tayo aabot sa sitahan at arestuhan pa sa pagpapatupad ng curfew hours sa Metro Manila o saan mang lugar na ipinapatupad ito,” Gen. Eleazar explained.

The Metro Manila Council has lengthened curfew hours in the National Capital Region to 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., from the previous 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., beginning July 25, Sunday.

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Alfred P. Dalizon