Bohol provincial director Col. Joselito Clarito bares that he has suspended the movement of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel via sea trips especially coming those from hot zones like Cebu City.
In a radio interview over The Bohol Tribune’s radio program over DyTR called “Open Forum” on Thursday, June 18, 2020, Clarito clarified that he is disallowing the movement of police personnel from one place to another to prevent possible spread of the virus.
He said he decided to stop the personnel movement momentarily especially that Cebu City is currently recording a high number of Covid cases and now under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Moreover, Clarito said he has no authority to prevent the movement of locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
The police provincial director said it is only the provincial governor through an executive order who can stop the movement or travel of LSIs into Bohol.
He issued this statement after a local radio station (nor DyTR), reported that sea travel has been suspended by the chief of the Central Visayas Police Provincial Office, Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro.
In a separate telephone interview, Clarito said he checked about the veracity of the report regarding Ferro’s order.
Furthermore; Clarito said that Ferro’s order is a verbal (oral) order allegedly based on the pronouncements of the Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año.
In the same telephone interview, Clarito said that he is still awaiting for Año’s written order regarding LSIs’ movement between local government units (LGU).
Meantime, Clarito said he is asking for the community’s help in ensuring that all people are following the minimum health standards.
He is encouraging all citizens to tell the pelice organization about violations of various protocols such as wearing of face masks, social distancing, and following the curfew hours among others.
He said that the police have never wavered in their duty to ensure all protocols against Covid are implemented.