Some 150 soldiers from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region were deployed to Sampaloc, Manila to implement the 48-hour hard lockdown in the area.
“I already sent 150 soldiers doon sa Manila para makatulong sa implementation ng hard lockdown sa Sampaloc,” JTF-NCR commander Brigadier General Alex Luna said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
“I think it will be done tomorrow so I think I would see the area at titignan ko rin ‘yung paglalatagan ng sundalo para alam namin paano kami makakatulong,” Luna said.
Aside from Sampaloc, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso earlier said more areas may be placed under hard lockdown to strictly implement the Enhanced Community Quarantine as well as the social distancing.
Domagoso ordered a hard lockdown in Sampaloc from 8 p.m. of April 23 (Thursday) until 8 p.m. of April 25 (Saturday) due to the high number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the area.
Initial reports said only those who are considered as frontliners, those with health emergency, uniformed personnel, government employees, service workers (pharmacies, drug stores, death care service establishments), barangay officials, and government-accredited media members will be allowed to pass the checkpoints at the locked –down areas.
As of April 21, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Manila was 492. Sampaloc has the most number with 106 cases.