MANILA, Philippines — Crime rate or incidents of eight focused crimes in the country dropped by 47 percent during the six months of community quarantine from March 16 to September 15, 2020, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield reported on Friday.

Task Force Commander PLt.Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said this is in comparison with the rate recorded in the six months prior to the imposition of community quarantines.

The figures presented by the JTF CV Shield showed that from 31,661 crime incidents in September 2019 to March 16, 2020, only 16,879 were recorded from March 17 to September 16 this year.

This means only an average of 92 crime incidents happened per day during the community quarantine period compared to 172 cases per day before the the implementation of restrictions.

Task Force records showed incidents of robbery decreased by 61 percent and theft by 60 percent contrary to speculations that crime rate would increase due to the economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We have been conducting analysis of the crime situation in the past six months in order to identify the best practices and security adjustments that we could replicate in other areas and eventually institutionalized in order to sustain this momentum,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar also echoed the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) Police General Camilo Cascolan to continuously maintain police visibility, beat patrol and coordination among barangay officials to back the existing peace and order measure.

The eight focus crimes include:

• Murder
• Homicide
• Physical Injury
• Rape
• Robbery
• Theft
• Carnapping of vehicle
• Carnapping of motorcycle

MNP (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

MANILA, Philippines — A report made through the Facebook page of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield led to the arrest of 16 individuals in Taguig City.

Acting on a tip-off posted on the social medial account of the JTF CV Shield, authorities were able to track down the violators in a drinking session at a birthday party.

JTF COVID Shield Commander PLt.Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said they were arrested for violating the government-imposed health protocols. 

“When police personnel went there, those who attended the birthday celebration were not wearing face masks and not observing social distancing,” Guillermo said.

They were held at the barangay basketball court and later released after six hours.

They are now facing charges for violation of city ordinance on drinking in public places and violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code on resistance and disobedience to a person in authority. –MNP (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

MANILA, Philippines – Nilinaw ng Joint Task Force COVID (JTF CV) Shield ngayong Martes na kailangan pa ring kumuha ng travel pass ang mga bibiyahe mula Metro Manila papuntang Tagaytay.

“Ang guidelines pa rin ng National Task Force is that kung hindi ka APOR (Authorized Person Outside Residence) at ang lakad mo ay hindi related sa work mo hindi pa rin tayo pwedeng lumiban, lalabas tayo ng probinsya,” ang pahayag ni JTF CV Shield commander Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar.

“’Yung galing sa Manila kapag pupunta ng Cavite, dapat po may reason ka ng pagpunta doon at kung hindi, dapat kukuha ka pa rin ng travel authority,” dagdag pa niya.

Ginawa ni Eleazar ang paglilinaw matapos buksan ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Cavite ang turismo sa Tagaytay.

Ang hakbang ay ipinatupad matapos ang ilang buwang pagsasara mula nang pumutok ang Bulkang Taal noong Enero ngayong taon na sinundan pa ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Iginiit rin ni Eleazar na binuksan lang ang turismo sa Tagaytay para sa mga residente sa Cavite at hindi nito saklaw ang Metro Manila.

Ang Metro Manila ay nasa ilalim ng general community quarantine (GCQ) habang ang Cavite naman ay naka-modified GCQ. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Joan Nano)