Twelve doctors were among the more than 100 persons who were rounded up for breach of quarantine protocols here in Cebu City.
Operatives of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) conducted “Oplan Bulabog”, which started at 11 p.m. last Friday and ended at dawn Saturday.
A total of 166 individuals were rounded up for violating Mayor Edgardo Labella’s executive order that imposes an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and prohibits drinking alcoholic drinks in public places.
The violators, including the 12 doctors, were brought to the Tinago Barangay Gym where they underwent a seminar.
Racquel Arce, chief of the city’s Prevention, Restoration, Order and Beautification (PROBE), said the doctors were caught drinking in an establishment in Barangay Banilad.
They were eventually released after paying the P500 fine. Violators who could not afford to pay the fines were given the option to render community service.
“No legal charges were filed. This is purely administrative,” said Arce. Police Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operation of CCPO, said medical workers are considered authorized persons outside residence (APOR) but their presence outdoors should be justified.
“You cannot just drink in public places just because your an APOR. As an APOR, you are only authorized to go outside if it’s part of your work,” said Parilla.
As part of its intensified implementation of quarantine protocols, armored cars from the Central Command were sent to barangays Suba, Pasil and Sawang Calero to prevent public gatherings in line with their fiesta celebrations.
In the past few days, the police and personnel of the City Hall have been strictly monitoring night establishments, hotels and other public places to prevent social gatherings.
These social gatherings have been blamed for the recent spike of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city.
Last Friday, the city recorded the highest single-day cases for the past few months with 61 new cases.
The city recorded 56 more new cases last Saturday, increasing its active cases to 570. (Calvin D. Cordova)
