More cops, soldiers to be deployed in Cebu City, says Año

More security forces will be deployed in Cebu City following the enforcement of lockdown in the area, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday.

"Magdadagdag pa tayo ng pulis dito pati kagawad ng Armed Forces para makatulong dito kasi nakita natin na kailangan talaga maquarantine 'yung mga tao sa kanilang mga bahay kasi malaki 'yung numero eh, nasa 4,000 ang active cases natin dito," Año said in a radio interview.

The decision to enforce stricter measures in Cebu City came following the continuous spike of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city.

Latest data show that it has 4,479 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

On June 23, the usage of quarantine passes was ordered temporarily suspended as authorities would re-evaluate the measure to ensure that only one per household will acquire a quarantine pass, the Central Visayas police had said.

GMA News Online asked the Philippine National Police how many cops will be added in Cebu City, spokesman, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, said the police organization has no data yet on the matter.

Earlier, 100 policemen from Western and Eastern Visayas were deployed in Cebu City to assist in the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, as ordered by PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa.

Meanwhile, Año also said more health personnel would deployed to the city to address the spike on COVID-19 cases.

"Magdadagdag ng doktor, nurses at meron din cycle na pagkatapos magtrabaho, quarantine mo sila kahit sabihin natin hindi tinamaan para makapahinga din at dapat 'yung ating mga health workers hindi na uuwi ng bahay," he said.

"Iha-house natin 'yan sa mga hotel, at mga accomodation na malapit sa hospital nila kasi tatamaan din 'yung pamilya noong ating mga health workers. But in fairness, bilib kami magagaling 'yung ating mga doktor dito," he added.

The Cebu City government and other concerned agencies would meet to discuss how the lockdown will be implemented as well as how new quarantine passes will be issued among residents.

On the other hand, Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella has appealed for "calm and understanding" from his constituents following the enforcement of a city-wide lockdown and the temporary suspension of quarantine passes of more or less 250,000 residents. —LBG, GMA News