A total of 2,761 individuals have been apprehended for violating COVID-19 health protocols in Bacolod City from June 1 to 13, 2021.

Police Lt. Col. Lester Leada, head of the Operations Management Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said that 1,044 were caught not wearing face masks and 737 for not wearing face shields.

A total of 427 individuals were apprehended for violating the curfew ordinance and 340 for violating the liquor ban.

Also apprehended were 213 individuals for failing to comply with the one-meter requirement for physical distancing.

From January 1 to June 13, 2021, the BCPO has already apprehended a total of 22,169 protocol violators in Bacolod.

Personnel of Police Stations 1 to 10, along with the operatives of Mobile Patrol Unit, Bacolod City Mobile Force Company and Traffic Enforcement Unit conducted the operations.

Leada clarified that the violators were not taken into custody, instead they were given citation tickets and warned not to commit any more violations.

The BCPO is urging the public to abide by the minimum health protocols to avoid getting fined or being made to do community service.

Those caught violating the health protocols are fined P200 each if they are from Bacolod, and P300 for out-of-towners, based on the city ordinance.

Moreover, BCPO conducts “recorida” as it continues to raise awareness among grassroots constituents in Bacolod regarding the risk of getting infected with COVID-19.

Part of their education campaign is to inform the public of the minimum health protocols, like wearing of face masks and face shields, and observing physical distancing./WDJ