2,500 security forces deployed as ECQ starts in Bacolod City

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A total of 2,500 law enforcers, and force multipliers will be deployed as the city starts to implement Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) today, March 30, 2020 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Police Colonel Henry Biñas, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said that the security force is composed of 1,500 policemen, 1,000 augmentation personnel from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and 500 watchmen and barangay officials in all 61 villages.

Biñas said the police force includes 100 augmentation personnel from Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 already assigned here temporarily as beat patrollers, 100 from the Field Training Program, and the remaining personnel came from all the 10 police stations, BCPO headquarters, and the City Mobile Force Company.

Check-up points will be placed in 24 strategic areas to monitor possible violators of the ECQ, aside from the existing border check-up points.

He said that four personnel will be stationed in each strategic area, augmented by other law enforcers from other units.

“We will be strict in guarding the streets because people should adhere to the order to stay at home,” Biñas said.

Biñas said persons caught violating the ECQ will be brought to the nearest barangay gymnasium and will be reprimanded.

Under the ECQ, the movement of people will be restricted, with only one household member allowed to go out to buy essential goods.

“They will be charged criminally if they resisted and become aggressive to the authorities,” he added.

Biñas said their security plan is set and the personnel are ready for deployment.

He added that mobile patrols are tasked to conduct roving and visibility patrol in the villages to ensure strict home quarantine among the residents of Bacolod.