ILOILO City – Violators of the curfew hours being imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas have reached 5,181, data from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) showed.
Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director, lamented that there were still persons going out of their homes beyond the curfew hours.
“As of April 20, a total of 5,068 were warned, 57 were fined and 56 were arrested, totaling to 5,181 violators in the region,” Pamuspusan said.
From March 18 to April 20, the top three areas with the most number of violators were Bacolod City (1,888), Negros Occidental (1,480) and Iloilo City (1,258).
Aside from curfew violators, 346 persons were also arrested for disobedience to authorities.
The PRO-6 set the 300 for regular filing of charges while 46 others were subject for inquest.
Pamuspusan, meanwhile, lauded policemen for keeping the region peaceful and orderly one month into the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.
While there were several violators, Pamuspusan said, the total crime incidents dropped to 45 percent.
“From a total of 234, we are down to 106 cases, comparing the period from Feb. 16 to March 16, and from March 17 to April 16.
“Meanwhile, if we compare it to the last year’s data, we have a remarkable decrease of 63 percent (229) from 362 cases, down to 133 cases for the period March 17 to April 16, 2019 versus the same period for 2020,” he said.
The decrease in crime volume could be attributed to the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, Enhanced Managing Police Operations (E-MPO) and the establishment of checkpoints, said Pamuspusan.
“Indeed, staying at home will not only keep you safe from COVID-19 but it is also the best way to prevent crimes,” he stressed.
Pamuspusan also told police personnel to take care of themselves as they continue to fight an unseen enemy.
“We do not know what is in store for tomorrow, so let us always be ready,” he said. (PNA)
