Over 200 nabbed for violating Tondo hard lockdown on first day; mass testing continues

More than 200 violators were arrested on Sunday, the first day of the hard lockdown imposed in Tondo 1 District in Manila, according to a report by Jonathan Andal on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday.

Among those arrested was a man who went out intending to buy noodles. He said he saw some people in the market and so he decided to step out of the house.

An 18-year-old meanwhile was nabbed twice. The first instance was when he left his house to go to the barber, and the second time when he was on his way home after he was released by the police station.

He said he tried to explain to the police arresting him for the second time that day.

"Sinabi ko ho kaso galit ang pulis. Sinigawan ako," the youth added.

Arrested violators of the hard lockdown on Tondo 1 District are brought to a covered basketball court in Barangay 105 Zone 8 in Manila on Sunday, May 3, 2020, the first day of the measure's implementation. The lockdown, which was imposed to address the threat from COVID-19, will last until 5 a.m. of Tuesday, May 5.  Danny Pata

The minors and persons with disability who were arrested were escorted back home, while the homeless were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

All the violators will have criminal records, police said.

More than 1,400 police officers were deployed in Tondo 1 on Sunday to implement the hard lockdown. 

Two hundred members of the Special Action Force, the elite unit of the Philippine National Police, were also deployed and patrolled the streets aboard multi-purpose armored vehicles.

Only members of the Manila Police District (MPD) though will do the arrests.

"There's no such thing as overkill ano. Bilangin niyo ang pulis. O, 1,400. Bilangin niyo ang kalye. Kahit bawat kalye lagyan mo ng isang pulis, kulang pa rin ang 1,400," MPD Director Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda said.

The Divisoria Night Market continued operations as Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said vendors may continue to sell. However, there were fewer vendors and buyers.

Mass testing

The mass testing for COVID-19 started on Sunday, and 109 were found to test positive in the antibody testing. These 109 cases will undergo swab test to confirm test results.

On Monday, mass testing will be conducted on frontliners exhibiting symptoms and those with exposure to COVID-19 cases as identified through contact tracing.

The hard lockdown in Tondo 1 which was imposed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 will be in effect until 5 a.m. of Tuesday, May 5. —KG, GMA News