MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said checkpoints will remain and police visibility increased as more areas transition into a general community quarantine (GCQ) starting this weekend.
"Tuloy-tuloy yung checkpoints natin although siguro random ang checkpoints [The checkpoints will continue, although it is random]," Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, PNP director for operations, said in a virtual press briefing.
He said the quarantine control points (QCPs) are the tool of the PNP in implementing the lockdown guidelines whether under the GCQ or the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
He added that the PNP shall also ensure compliance with minimum health requirements in the establishments in areas under GCQ.
"Ang gagawin natin magtatalaga rin tayo ng tauhan upang ipadala sa establishments to ensure ang compliance ng mga establishments, lalo na sa mga mall na magbubukas [What we will do it to assign personnel to the establishments to ensure compliance, especially the malls that will open]," Licup said.
Meanwhile, PNP chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, said they are waiting for specific guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on what is allowed under modified ECQ or GCQ.
Gamboa said they will also make a study on the effect of the "new normal" situation brought about by the developments in the government's quarantine measures.
“There is a meeting of our study group which is headed by our chief directorial staff to study really the effect of the new normal sa PNP at doon nakita na napakaraming pagbabago na gagawin (there are a lot of changes to be made) and I told them if possible, we can come up with that policy soonest possible kasi ngayong (because this coming) Saturday, May 16, magbabago ang sitwasyon kasi may mga ibang lugar na GCQ (there will be a different situation as some areas are will be under GCQ),” Gamboa said.
Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Covid Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the increased presence of police personnel aims to thwart criminal threats that are expected to surge under new normal or less-stringent GCQ.
“Under GCQ, more establishments will be allowed to operate because our economy will be partially opened. This means that more people would be allowed to go out. So, our police visibility would be in these areas in order to strictly implement the basic rules such as wearing of face masks and physical distancing,” Eleazar said in a statement.
Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City will be placed under a modified ECQ from May 16 until May 31 as announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) took into consideration the proposal of Metro Manila mayors to extend the ECQ for another 15 days, Roque said.
The IATF also declared a GCQ in eight regions with a moderate risk of infection, namely Cagayan Valley; Central Luzon; Calabarzon (except Laguna); Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Central Visayas (except Cebu City); Zamboanga Peninsula; Davao Region (Region 11); and Caraga (Region 13).
Eight regions with low risk of infection will no longer be under ECQ or GCQ. These are Ilocos Region; Mimaropa; Bicol: Western Visayas; Eastern Visayas; Northern Mindanao; Soccsksargen; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the IATF resolution noted.
Provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and independent component cities (ICCs) characterized as low, moderate, and high-risk may appeal their classification to the IATF Screening and Validation Committee not later than May 13, he added.
The current ECQ in Metro Manila; Central Luzon, except Aurora; Calabarzon; Benguet; Pangasinan; Iloilo province; Cebu province; Bacolod City; Davao City, Zamboanga City, and Albay province will end on May 15. (PNA)
