Armored personnel carriers deployed as Navotas starts 14-day lockdown

On the first day of the city-wide lockdown on Thursday, armored personnel carriers were deployed to Navotas City to assist in the strict enforcement of the lockdown measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas  also visited the city to inspect the situation in the area.

"Sa ngayon, maganda naman po 'yung deployment natin at pag-iikot ng tropa natin. Kasi nga sinasanay namin, this is the first day of deployment," Sinas said in Allan Gatus' live report on Dobol B sa News TV.

Sinas: Sa ngayon, maganda naman ang deployment natin at pag-iikot ng tropa natin. pic.twitter.com/ltuhdfM5rK

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 16, 2020

Sinas said the two armored personnel carriers are not meant to scare the residents but only to remind them about the presence of policemen in the area.

"Hindi naman [kami nananakot]. Ito kasi para mapakita natin [na] tumulong sa atin 'yung SAF (Special Action Force), para ma-remind sa mga kababayan natin na nandiyan po kami, ang SAF, police din po 'yan... kasama po namin... ay nagpaalala na sumunod tayo sa mga direktiba ng city mayor ng Navotas," Sinas said.

For 14 days, residents of Navotas City are not allowed to leave their homes for non-essential reasons. Business establishments, however, are allowed to operate so as not to disrupt the economy, according to Mayor Toby Tiangco.

Sinas said policemen would continue to remind the residents about the guidelines issued by city hall.

Th lockdown will last until July 29.

So far, Navotas City has recorded 1,074 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 344 recoveries and 69 fatalities. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News