By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
A total of 157 individuals have been apprehended by police for violating quarantine measures at the end of the two-day "hard lockdown" imposed on Sampaloc, Manila on Saturday night (April 25).
Manila Public Information Office (PIO) data showed that 23 persons were nabbed in the University Belt Area, six in España, 10 in Sibama, 45 in Gulod, 49 in Lacson, 19 in Calabash, and five more in other areas.
The violators were turned over to nearby holding facilities, particularly the covered courts of Barangays 463, 581, 420, and 424.
According to Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, the violators face appropriate charges and warned this might affect their legal records in the future.
Manila Police District Station 4 head Lt. Col. John Guiagui said no untoward incident occurred.
During the two-day hard lockdown, the Manila health department conducted 752 rapid antibody tests and 68 swab tests on pre-selected residents.
"As per Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan, most residents who have taken rapid antibody tests have tested negative," the PIO said.
On Thursday, Domagoso placed the whole of Sampaloc under "hard lockdown" to contain the spread of the coronavirus after the most cases in Manila were recorded in the area.
As of Saturday, Sampaloc has 124 confirmed COVID-19 cases while the whole of Manila has 608.