MANILA – The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) on Thursday urged police units across the country to intensify operations against violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country.
JTF CV Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the decision to extend the ECQ up to April 30 proves the seriousness posed by the disease, hence the need to continue strict implementation of quarantine rules.
Based on the JTF CV Shield data from March 17 to April 8, a total of 96,330 violators were apprehended across the country but 71.06 percent of them, or 68,451 people, were just warned not to repeat the offense.
More than half of those accosted were from Luzon with 55,665 violators, while 17,748 are from Visayas and 22,917 are from Mindanao.
A total of 4,460 were fined; 4,743 were charged, while 18,676 are set to be slapped with appropriate charges.
Eleazar also reminded law enforcers manning the control points not to lower their guard against persons who are not authorized to go out.
This came amid reports that home quarantine rules are not strictly enforced in some Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) which are manned and supervised by local police forces and located mostly near the boundaries of towns and cities.
“I have also noticed during our inspections (last Tuesday) with the Director of the Highway Patrol Group (Police Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz) that some of our QCPs are becoming lenient in checking non-cargo vehicles for the UPOR (Unauthorized Persons Outside Residence). There are some UPOR who are openly staying out of their residence because they are not being cautioned, particularly those in non-cargo vehicles. Bantayan natin para hindi mamihasa (We should keep a close watch so they won't be stubborn),” Eleazar said in a statement.
Only those considered as Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) will be allowed to pass the QCPs.
The task force established a total of 115 Dedicated Control Points (DCPs) in strategic locations nationwide to be inspected by the HPG.
He said there are 3,593 QCPs where private vehicles would be inspected.
Eleazar explained that in situations that QCPs and DCPs are located in one place, the two control points may co-exist in close proximity depending on the coordination between the HPG and the local police.
“But regardless of the location, this rule applies: DCPs shall inspect cargo vehicles and not the non-cargo vehicles; QCPs shall inspect non-cargo vehicles, not the cargo vehicles,” said Eleazar. (PNA)
