Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday said he supports President Duterte’s plan to tap the police and military to strictly enforce quarantine rules to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
(Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa / Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Dela Rosa said state forces are “well-organized” and “better equipped” to carry out the government’s quarantine protocols against COVID-19.
“All other governments in the world are relying on their police and military in enforcing quarantine protocols because they are well-organized, better equipped, and quickly deployable,” Dela Rosa said in a text message to reporters.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief also defended the Duterte government from groups criticizing the administration’s response to the COVID-19.
“Please ask those critics what other approach they can offer. If they have better ideas, then please present them to the government. What we need now is unity, not divisiveness; otherwise, we will lose this fight,” the senator said.
On Monday night, President Duterte again raised the possibility of commissioning military and police forces to enforce the enhanced community quarantine to ensure that the public will strictly adhere to health protocols and restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.
This has prompted critics of the administration to condemn its response to the pandemic, calling it “militaristic and punitive.”