Malacañang has reminded journalists to follow the quarantine protocols implemented by local government units despite having identification cards issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has clarified that the IATF passes, which exempts media personnel from the stay-at-home policy, are only valid in Metro Manila.
"In general, you have to always comply with the requirements of the LGUs (local government units)," he said during a televised press briefing Friday.
"Alam ninyo po iyang IATF pass na ibinibigay sa mga media, that’s good for Metro Manila because under the Local Government Code, hindi po natin puwedeng ipagkait sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na magpatupad ng mga sarili nilang mga quarantine restrictions (The IATF passes given to the media are good for Metro Manila because under the local government code, we cannot deprive the local government units to implement their own quarantine restrictions)," he said.
"So, effectively po while you have freedom of movement in Metro Manila, kinakailangan pa rin ang mga media practitioners should comply with all quarantine procedures of LGUs," he said.
When the enhanced community quarantine was imposed in Luzon last March, the task force issued special passes that would allow journalists to travel outside their houses to cover stories.