Cops in Sampaloc told to ‘taser COVID-positive patients’ roaming streets amid hard lockdown

More than 500 personnel from the Manila Police District and 150 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Joint Task Force-National Capital Region were deployed in Sampaloc, Manila to enforce the 48-hour hard lockdown in the area starting 8 p.m. on Thursday.

According to a 24 Oras report by Chino Gaston, MPD chief Brigadier General Rolando Miranda told the police and the military to use force if necessary against unruly residents.

"Unang sampolan natin 'yong mga COVID-positive na palakad-lakad diyan sa kalsada. I-taser niyo para hindi sila magkalat ng bacteria at 'di sila makahawa," Miranda said during the cops' pre-deployment briefing earlier.

The police and the military will guard more than 260,000 residents of the Manila district.

The Manila City government decided to impose a two-day hard lockdown in Sampaloc from 8 p.m. of April 23 (Thursday) until 8 p.m. of April 25 (Saturday) due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the area.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno earlier said all Sampaloc district residents should be strictly confined to their homes and are prohibited from going out.

Those who are exempted from the lockdown are health workers, police and military personnel, government employees, service workers (pharmacies, drug stores, death care service establishments), barangay officials, and government-accredited media members.

As of Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases in Manila was 519. Sampaloc has the most number with 108 cases.

Nationwide, cases of COVID-19 rose to 6,981, including 462 deaths and 722 recoveries. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News