Eleazar tasks BASULTA police offices to heighten patrols amid Delta variant threat

Amid the threat of the Delta variant, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Monday directed police units in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) to help intensify patrols on the shores to prevent illegal entry of people from neighboring countries.

"Bukod sa ating mga local police forces, nagbigay na din ako ng kautusan sa ating mga commanders doon, lalo na sa Maritime Group, na palakasin ang border control sa lahat ng pumapasok na galing sa Indonesia at Malaysia upang matiyak na hindi tayo malulusutan doon,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(Aside from local police forces, I have directed our commanders in the region, especially the Maritime Group, to strengthen border controls against those entering from Indonesia and Malaysia.)

Eleazar said local police forces and the Maritime Group have been tasked to coordinate with local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, so that they could come up with tight measures to seal the Mindanao areas from illegal entry of people from neighboring countries.

The Philippine government included Indonesia in the list of countries with strict travel restrictions due to the threat of the Delta variant, which is believed to be more transmissible.

The Philippines has so far detected 35 cases of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Independent group OCTA Research has urged the national government to reimpose the bubble policy over Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal -- or NCR Plus -- as well as restrictions on children amid the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News