PNP to barangays: Come up with resolution vs. videoke sessions

The Philippine National Police will ask barangay officials to have a resolution against the use of videoke machines, especially since school year 2020-2021 has officially started.

"We will be asking our barangay officials to have a resolution with regard to the use of this noisy (videoke)... Basically we will be cooperating with them," PNP chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said at a press briefing.

"As I've said, we are in the verge of coming up with a lot of barangay assistance centers so this will be part of law enforcement in each barangay," he added.

Cascolan vowed that the police would be supportive to the Department of Education in providing manpower support in public schools during the distribution phase of learning materials and modules amid the blended learning system.

"In some schools that will open for blended learning methods, the PNP will be on hand to provide police security and reassuring presence to address perennial law enforcement and public safety concerns in campuses and school zones, particularly in university belt areas of urban centers," Cascolan said.

On Sunday, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield directed all police commanders to enhance police visibility for the start of classes.

According to JTF COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, police presence in the community would ensure that online learners would not be disturbed by the noises coming from the people who hang out on the streets.

President Rodrigo Duterte had said there would be no face-to-face classes until a vaccine against COVID-19 is available in the country. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News