ILOILO City – The virus causing a pneumonia-like disease now called COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) may be scaring drug traffickers and petty street criminals in Western Visayas.
Very few buy-bust operations were carried out since last week because most targets were not keen on making transactions, according to Director Alex Tablate of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6.
Some target drug personalities did not have supplies likely because travel restrictions were making it difficult for their suppliers to transport or ship the supply, said Tablate.
“Mahigpit ang mga pulis sa pag-inspect,” the director added.
Tablate also said the scarcity of buyers – mainly due to the community quarantine – may have discouraged drug pushers from doing business at this time.
“COVID-19 is adversely affecting illegal drug sales. Wala silang orders. Stay lang sa bahay ang mga buyers and users,” Tablate said.
Citing intelligence reports, he placed the drop in sales at around 40 percent.
Meanwhile, since March 14, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has not received from its various units across Western Visayas reports on petty street crimes such as snatching, bag-slashing, pickpocketing and the like.
It appeared, according to PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, that petty street criminals stayed at home for lack of prospective victims.
The six provincial governments – Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental – in Western Visayas and key cities such as Iloilo and Bacolod have taken unprecedented steps to shield their areas from the possible entry and spread of COVID-19 such as imposing border restrictions, closing schools, cancelling mass gatherings, and shortening business hours.
These precautionary measures forced people to just stay home, said Malong.
“Perhaps they’re scared of getting the coronavirus, so wala may mabiktima ang mga criminals,” said Malong.
She noted the dramatic shrinking of the volume of people going out and the number of public transport operating.
In this city alone, shopping centers are operating on a shortened period – from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. only.
On the other hand, the operating hours of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, cocktail lounges and the like shall be until 8 p.m. only.
These shortened operating hours ordered by Mayor Jerry Treñas aim to further limit the people’s risk of exposure to the virus causing COVID-19.
The operating hours of night clubs, massage parlors, spas, casinos, cockpits, movie houses, computer shops, online gaming shops and the like are until 8 p.m. also./PN
