Eleazar orders police commanders to prevent mass gatherings amid fiesta season

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Friday called on all police commanders to strictly monitor their areas and prevent gatherings amid the fiesta season.

"Alam naman natin na kapag piyesta, nariyan ang mga handaan, mga aktibidad sa simbahan at iba pang mass gatherings. Nakagawian na natin ito at bahagi ng tradisyon pero bawal pa rin po ito hangga’t narito ang banta ng COVID-19,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(We know that during fiesta season, celebrations and church activities are very common. These have been our culture and tradition but all of these are prohibited amid the COVID-19 threat.),

“I am directing the police commanders to strictly monitor happenings in your AORs. Napakahalaga po ang inyong papel para mapigilan natin ang mass gatherings o mga potential super spreader events ngayong panahon ng piyesta,” he added.

(Your roles are important in preventing mass gatherings or potential super spreader events amid the fiesta season.)

In his public address on Thursday night, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered local government units to implement measures against mass gatherings during fiestas.

Eleazar said the police would closely coordinate with the LGUs, including barangay officials, to ensure that there are no coronavirus super spreader events.

"Madali po ang hawahan tuwing may mga kainan, prusisyon, o kahit anong selebrasyon. Ito ang mga tinatawag nating mga ‘super spreader events.’ Huwag naman po nating isugal ang ating kaligtasan at kalusugan sa mga ito,” he said.

(Celebrations and gatherings facilitate the transmission of COVID-19. These are what we call super spreader events. We should not trade our health and safety for this.)

He said police would no longer warn violators as this rule has been implemented since last year.

"This time, they should already know our minimum health standards. At dapat sa puntong ito ay automatic na sa bawat isa sa atin. Matagal nang bawal ang mass gatherings at alam na alam na natin ang mga paraan para makaiwas mahawaan ng COVID-19,” he said.

(Mass gatherings have been prohibited since last year. The public should know by now the ways on how to prevent being infected with COVID-19.)

However, Eleazar assured the public that law enforcers would not hurt or punish violators. — DVM, GMA News