The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded more than 220,000 quarantine violators in Metro Manila since it was placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) on August 21.
The large number of violators accosted during the entire MECQ period in the National Capital Region raises questions on the decision of the national government to place Metro Manila under less stricter General Community Quarantine (GCQ) amid the continuous rise of coronavirus disease (COVOD-19) cases in the past days.
Based on the report of the Department of Health, the Philippines has recorded more than 20,000 COVID cases in four straight days.
PNP reports disclosed that a total of 149,110 were warned, fined and arrested for violation of the minimum public health safety (MPHS) from August 21 to September 6 in Metro Manila—for a daily average of 8,718 accosted violators.
For curfew violation, the PNP reported 53,383 violators for the same period—for a daily average of 3,493.
And for violation of prohibition against non-essential travels, the PNP recorded a total of 12,906, or a daily average of 759 accosted violators.
For the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal, the PNP said a total of 572,023 were accosted from August 21 to September 6 for violation of MPHS; 134,407 for curfew violation; and, 34,537 for violation on prohibition for non-essential travels.