100 cops to be sent to Cebu City to help enforce ECQ

At least 100 policemen will be sent to Cebu City in Central Visayas to assist in the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the area due to the rise of COVID-19 cases, the Philippine National Police said Thursday.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa tasked the Police Regional Offices in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas to send their respective regional augmentation contingents, which include 50 personnel each, for deployment to Cebu City.

The PNP said this was upon the recommendation of PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar.

Gamboa also ordered Director for Integrated Police Operations in Visayas chief Police Major General Israel Dickson to coordinate and monitor the troops who will start moving to Cebu City on June 18.

The PNP chief also directed the regional health services in Western and Eastern Visayas to make sure that the cops who will be deployed have undergone mandatory health checks.

Cebu City was placed under ECQ due to its increasing number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, widespread community transmission in majority of barangays in the city, and consistent case doubling time of less than seven days and significant increase in critical care utilization against critical care capacity.

Mayor Edgar Labella has said he will appeal the government's decision, however, the Palace said the period for local government units to make an appeal on their quarantine status had already lapsed. --Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News