Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered on Wednesday, August 3, police units and offices to run after those would be identified engaging in hoarding of oxygen tanks and other medical supplies amid the continuing threat of COVID-19, especially its Delta variant.
"We will be coordinating with the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) to look into the report of oxygen tanks, especially in Cebu City," said Eleazar.
Eleazar made the statement after Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama called on the police and the DTI to look into the supposed hoarding of oxygen tanks after a photo of private cars with COVID patients connected to oxygen tanks outside a Cebu City hospital went viral.
“I have directed the Cebu City Police and the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to closely coordinate with the DTI office in the area and look into this report of hoarding,” said Eleazar.
He said the PNP will also check if there are incidents of hoarding of oxygen tanks and other medical supplies in the National Capital Region and other parts of the country.
He also urged the public to avoid hoarding oxygen tanks and other medical supplies.
"We are currently facing a challenge. Lives of people who need stable supply of oxygen are at stake here. What we need now is unity to effectively fight the COVID-19 in the country," said Eleazar.