Police Lieutenant General Joselito Vera Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — Police Lieutenant General Joselito Vera Cruz has been designated as the new commander of Joint Task Force COVID Shield, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Wednesday.

“Effective on Tuesday, April 20, Vera Cruz was designated as the Deputy Chief for Operations and Task Force Commander of the enforcement arm of the national government in the implementation of quarantine rules and health protocols,” PNP chief General Debold Sinas said in a statement.

Vera Cruz replaced Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag, who will retire on April 24 and whose designation has been terminated effective April 20, 2021.

“As the new commander of this task force, I expect PLtGen Vera Cruz will continue the plans and programs of the previous commander and enforce strict quarantine rules in the country to mitigate the spread of the virus while waiting for the available vaccines,” Sinas said.

The JTF Covid-19 Shield is composed of members of the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

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)