MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar has ordered all police commanders in Western Visayas to tighten the border security in the region.
“We have been receiving reports that some LSIs (locally stranded individuals) are illegally entering some areas in the region through small boats and even cargo and other vehicles,” Eleazar said.
The PNP official coordinated with Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia for the intensified conduct of patrols to prevent LSIs using boats and other seacraft to enter areas where there is suspension of repatriation.
Eleazar, also the commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, added the tight security in Region 6 border will also be in effect in Eastern Visayas, Cebu and Mactan Islands.
The return of LSIs to Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Cebu, and Mactan Islands was earlier suspended for 14 days based on the request of the local chief executives. The requests were approved by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Eleazar also instructed police commanders manning both the quarantine control points and dedicated control points, and Coast Guard personnel to strictly check all the cargo vehicles and other vehicles at least before the boarding of ships bound for any part of the two regions for any illegal travelers.
“We have to be very strict about this since what is at stake is the health of the people in those areas. There is a high possibility that these LSIs illegally entering the places where travel ban was implemented did not go through the proper medical check,” said Eleazar./PN
