SAF members deployed to ensure security, enforce health protocols on New Year’s Eve —PNP

Members of the Special Action Force (SAF) have been deployed to augment the police personnel monitoring security as well as enforcing minimum health protocols in the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.

Interviewed on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said their personnel are on duty on New Year’s Eve.

“Madagdagan pa nga po ng puwersa ang ating mga kapulisan galing  po sa Special Action Force,” Usana said.

“Ang layunin naman po, hindi lang po sa seguridad, at public order and safety, pati na rin po doon sa mga mamamayan na pumunta-punta sa mga matataong lugar,” he said.

According to Usana, “social distancing patrollers” have been deployed to ensure that the public are observing the preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19.

Earlier, Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag said that the organization doubled the deployment of police for the holiday season.

The police will focus on areas of convergence such as markets, churches, malls, ports, terminals, and other places where many people are expected to gather.

The Department of Health and OCTA Research said a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is very likely during and after the holiday season.—AOL, GMA News