By Aaron Recuenco
Authorities have observed that Cebu City residents were complying with quarantine rules, as deployment of commandos of the police's elite Special Action Force (SAF) and soldiers continues.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said that the unnecessary presence of people on the streets have been reduced, starting when the SAF commandos arrived in the city on Sunday, June 28. “We are confident that the compliance of our kababayan in Cebu City to quarantine rules will be sustained, especially now that we have started the deployment of SAF troopers in strategic areas,” said Eleazar. He earlier said that the deployment of SAF commandos and soldiers had been proven effective in Metro Manila and nearby areas when Luzon was still under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in terms of reducing the number of quarantine violators. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier reverted Cebu City to ECQ due to the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, which was attributed to the complacency of local residents in protecting themselves from infection. “As what we have observed in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, the deployment of SAF commandos resulted in the significant reduction of quarantine violators. We want to duplicate this success in Cebu City as part of our mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19, by containing the movement of local residents and disallowing unnecessary travels,” said Eleazar. He was, however, quick to clarify misconceptions and disinformation that the deployment of SAF troopers and soldiers is meant to bully residents of Cebu City. Eleazar explained that the strategic deployment of SAF commandos and soldiers is to "intensify visibility in order to compel local residents to stay home, and for those who are allowed to go out to observe the minimum health safety protocols, such as wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing." “We have no problem with most people of Cebu City who have been doing their share in the fight against COVID-19 by staying at home and avoiding unnecessary travel. What we have a problem with are those hardheaded people who disregard quarantine rules despite knowing the risk of infection to them, their family, and their community,” said Eleazar. “This is the reason why the deployment of SAF and soldiers is necessary, for these hardheaded people to be forced to comply.”
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said that the unnecessary presence of people on the streets have been reduced, starting when the SAF commandos arrived in the city on Sunday, June 28. “We are confident that the compliance of our kababayan in Cebu City to quarantine rules will be sustained, especially now that we have started the deployment of SAF troopers in strategic areas,” said Eleazar. He earlier said that the deployment of SAF commandos and soldiers had been proven effective in Metro Manila and nearby areas when Luzon was still under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in terms of reducing the number of quarantine violators. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier reverted Cebu City to ECQ due to the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, which was attributed to the complacency of local residents in protecting themselves from infection. “As what we have observed in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, the deployment of SAF commandos resulted in the significant reduction of quarantine violators. We want to duplicate this success in Cebu City as part of our mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19, by containing the movement of local residents and disallowing unnecessary travels,” said Eleazar. He was, however, quick to clarify misconceptions and disinformation that the deployment of SAF troopers and soldiers is meant to bully residents of Cebu City. Eleazar explained that the strategic deployment of SAF commandos and soldiers is to "intensify visibility in order to compel local residents to stay home, and for those who are allowed to go out to observe the minimum health safety protocols, such as wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing." “We have no problem with most people of Cebu City who have been doing their share in the fight against COVID-19 by staying at home and avoiding unnecessary travel. What we have a problem with are those hardheaded people who disregard quarantine rules despite knowing the risk of infection to them, their family, and their community,” said Eleazar. “This is the reason why the deployment of SAF and soldiers is necessary, for these hardheaded people to be forced to comply.”