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5K violate W. Visayas' curfew: police exec

By Gail Momblan

April 21, 2020, 7:02 pm

<p><strong>CURFEW VIOLATORS.</strong> Those caught outside of their homes beyond the curfew hours are gathered by the Iloilo City Police Office in La Paz district. Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, regional director of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), said on Monday (April 20, 2020) the curfew violators have reached 5, 181. <em>(PNA photo courtesy of ICPO-La Paz)</em></p>

CURFEW VIOLATORS. Those caught outside of their homes beyond the curfew hours are gathered by the Iloilo City Police Office in La Paz district. Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, regional director of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), said on Monday (April 20, 2020) the curfew violators have reached 5, 181. (PNA photo courtesy of ICPO-La Paz)

ILOILO CITY – Violators of the curfew hours to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Western Visayas have reached 5, 181, the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) chief said on Monday.

In a virtual press conference, Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, PRO 6 regional director, noted that there are still persons who go out of their homes beyond the curfew hours.

“As of today April 20, 2020, a total of 5,068 were warned, 57 were fined and 56 were arrested, totaling to 5,181 violators in the region,” Pamuspusan said.

Based on the data of PRO 6 from March 18 to April 20, the top three provinces with most number of violators are Bacolod City Police Office recorded with 1, 888; Negros Occidental Police Office with 1, 480; and Iloilo City Police Office with 1, 258.

Aside from the curfew violators, there were also 346 persons arrested for disobedience to authorities. The PRO 6 set the 300 for regular filing while 46 others are subject for inquest.

“You are not only keeping yourselves and families safe from the danger of being infected but you are also helping our government in this war,” he said.

Pamuspusan, meanwhile, lauded the efforts of the police in sustaining the region’s peace and order on the one-month implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.

While there were several violators, Pamuspusan noted that the total crime incidents has been reduced to 45 percent.

“From a total of 234, we are down to 106 cases comparing the period February 16 to March 16, 2020 and March 17 to April 16, 2020.

“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.

He said that the decrease in the crime volume could be attributed to the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, Enhanced Managing Police Operations (E-MPO) and the establishment of checkpoints.

“Indeed, staying at home will not only keep you safe from Covid-19 but it is also the best way to prevent crimes,” he noted.

Pamuspusan also told police personnel to take care of themselves as they continue to remain on the battle against the unseen enemy.

“Take care of yourselves and always expect the worse because we do not know what is in store for tomorrow, so let us always be ready,” he said. (PNA)


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