POLICE apprehended about 17,000 individuals in Central Luzon for violating the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules.
Brigadier General Rhodel Sermonia, director of the Central Luzon police, said the residents were arrested for violating curfew hours, drinking and smoking in prohibited places and disobedience in checkpoint operations.
Out of this figure, 4,896 were curfew violators and 7,327 were caught drinking and smoking in prohibited places.
Most of the violators were advised to go home while the others were fined.
Some 909 persons were arrested and charged for illegal gambling.
"We will continue to be stricter with the enforcement and will keep on arresting those who violate the ECQ guidelines," Sermonia stressed.
ECQ, meant to curb the rising number of cases of coronavirus disease, was enforced in the entire Luzon from March 17 to April 30. (PIA-Central Luzon)