PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar encouraged the public to wear face shields over face masks following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive.

President Duterte on Monday announced the mandatory wearing of face shields indoors and outdoors after the Department of Health found more cases of the Delta variant, the coronavirus variant first reported in India which is believed to be more transmissible.

“Nakikiusap po tayo sa publiko na igalang at sumunod sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo tungkol sa pagsusuot ng face shields. Para po ito sa kaligtasan ng lahat lalo na’t may dumagdag po sa bilang ng nakitaan ng Delta variant sa bansa,” Gen. Eleazar said.

“Ayon sa ating mga eksperto, hindi biro ang variant na ito at kailangan talagang magdoble ingat tayo,” he added.

So far, the DOH said there were already 17 COVID-19 Delta variant cases that have been detected in the Philippines.

“Kung ganito pong may mas nakahahawang variant na nadetect sa ating bansa, mas kinakailangan po natin ng ibayong proteksyon sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa ating mga health protocols,” the PNP chief said.

At the same time, he assured the strict enforcement of minimum public health safety standards to prevent the spread of the more infectious variant.

However, Gen. Eleazar reminded his men to also follow the rules on wearing of face shields.

“Ang instruction ko lang sa mga kapulisan natin ay sumunod din sa ganitong patakaran dahil anong magiging kredibilidad natin niyan sa panghuhuli kung tayo mismo ay hindi sinusunod ito,” he said.

The PNP chief ordered police personnel to exercise maximum tolerance and to refrain from imposing sanctions on those who fail to wear face shields.

Aside from face masks, he said face shields should also be distributed to those who have none.

Gen. Eleazar said that both the police and the general public are playing an important role in preventing the spread of the Delta variant which is believed to be more transmissible than any other COVID-19 variant.

The top cop said PNP personnel should continue to strictly enforce protocols laid out by the national government in response to the continuing threat of COVID-19 while the public should abide by these health safety guidelines.

“Kami po sa PNP ay naniniwala na kailangang lahat ay kumilos para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng mas nakahahawang variant na ito,” he said.

“Bukod sa bakuna at pagsunod sa minimum public health safety standards, disiplina po ang kailangan ng bawat isa sa atin,” the PNP chief added.

“Matagal na din itong panawagan ng ating DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano, ang magkaroon ng kusa ang ating mga kababayan na sumunod sa mga panuntunan ng IATF upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng coronavirus. Dapat po natin tandaan na ang bawat protocol at guideline na inilalabas ng IATF ay para din sa ating kaligtasan at mga kapakanan.”

“Mahalaga din po’ng magampanan ng maayos ng ating kapulisan ang tungkuling ipatupad ang batas at ang minimum public health safety standards upang matigil ang pagdami ng kaso ng COVID-19,” Gen. Eleazar further said.