The Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa guaranteed the public that the agency has 205,000 police officers prepared for the possible implementation of “selective quarantine” after April 30.
Gamboa made the statement while he encourages all PNP personnel to donate cash to PNP’s project of raising P200 million to contribute to the government’s funding for the poorest of the poor amid the global pandemic new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“From here, the way forward, in my analysis, is for us to expect a longer operation period in our law enforcement and public safety functions beyond April 30 for a possible selective quarantine in some areas,” Gamboa said.
The PNP chief also praised the efforts of all PNP units and joint task force COVID shield in the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine guidelines.
Gamboa assured the public that there would be sufficient PNP personnel that would be deployed for front-line duty even after April 30.
He also urged PNP personnel to join in the “Bayanihan Fund Challenge,” which “aims to raise over P200 million from individual voluntary contributions of PNP personnel.” The said project has already raised P34 million in cash and pledges from police star-rank officials and their staff.
Also read: Scientist recommends lockdown extension; says PH needs 2-3 months to ‘flatten the curve’
Senators support another ECQ extension
Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed his support to another extension of the lockdown if there would still be no clear solution to the spread of the new coronavirus.
“I would rather play the conservative card and side with a continuing lockdown if no clear evidence of a solution to the virus is in sight,” Sotto said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he would only end the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine if he sees that an antibody treatment for COVID-19 becomes available.
Senator Imee Marcos meanwhile suspects that only a partial easing of the Luzon-wide total lockdown would be allowed by the end of April.
“Hence, we should expect only critical businesses will be allowed to fully open—medical production, importation, and distribution, food chain sectors, essential transport, communication, general services, and maintenance. Other industries may only be partially commenced with only a skeleton workforce,” Marcos said.