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Sampaloc falls silent on first day of 'hard lockdown'

Manila's Sampaloc distirct fell silent  on the first morning of the 48-hour "hard lockdown" Mayor Isko Moreno imposed beginning Thursday at 8 p.m., in efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 in the area.

Stores and stalls in the Trabajo Market were closed early morning on Friday, Super Radyo dzBB's James Agustin reported.

Police elements patrolling the streets have been on the job since the hard lockdown began the night before.

On Thursday, the Manila Police District (MPD) announced that it will deploy more than 500 personnel, assisted by some 150 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, to impose the lockdown.

An earlier report on 24-Oras by Chino Gaston said that MPD chief Brigadier General Rolando Miranda told the police and the military to use force if necessary against unruly residents.

Authorities in uniform have been ordered to ensure the implementation of the hard lockdown in Sampaloc district, reported to have high prevalence  of COVID-19 cases among more than 260,000 residents. —LBG, GMA News