By Aaron Recuenco
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered police commanders to supervise all quarantine control points (QCPs) around the country following numerous complaints about varying rules being implemented on the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN)3
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, head of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said the objective is to have a uniform implementation of the guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force through the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield.
"They (police commanders) need to supervise because there were complaints on the implementation of the barangay checkpoints," Licup told the Manila Bulletin.
Some barangay quarantine control points reportedly do not allow people, even from the adjacent barangays, to pass through.
Some barangays are also reportedly blocking cargoes that deliver food items and other basic needs.
Earlier, JTF CV Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said there should be uniform guidelines that must be implemented to avoid confusion from the public which almost end up in confrontations at the quarantine control points.
"We have issued guidelines on who are the persons allowed outside their residence. We regularly update this guideline based on the recommendation of various agencies under IATF," said Eleazar.
"This guideline was already cascaded down to the police commanders," he added
In a memorandum he issued dated March 23, Licup said police commanders should regularly supervise the quarantine control points, especially in the barangay level.
"All QCPs at the barangay level shall be coordinated with the Municipal Joint Task Group and be supervised by the unit commanders/COPs (Chiefs of Police)," the memorandum said.
Licup said the coordination with the police in the conduct of QCPs at the barangay level will ensure uniform implementation since police commanders have been furnished with copies of the guidelines from the JTF CV Shield.
He clarified that the memorandum he issued does not mean that all QCPs require the presence of policemen.
"We do not have enough policemen to do that. The police commanders should just supervise the QCPs," said Licup.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac explained that the supervision could also mean that mobile patrol units should regularly visit barangay level QCPs.
"The presence of policemen should just be at the major thoroughfares," Banac told the Manila Bulletin.
Since the Luzon-wide quarantine was implemented, various local government units have implemented their own lockdowns, with some of them crafting their own rules.
President Duterte earlier warned local chief executives to follow the rules coming from the national government.