Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reiterated that the delivery of food is allowed 24/7 in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Roque made the statement in response to the viral video of a Grab rider who was prohibited from delivering "lugaw" or rice porridge to a customer in a barangay in Bulacan at around 1:30 a.m. because the said dish was not essential.
In a phone call to reporters, the Palace official said that food deliveries are allowed no matter the time of day.
"24/7 ang food delivery (Food delivery is allowed 24/7)," he said Wednesday.
"Hindi hinuhuli ang APOR (An APOR should not be arrested)," he added.
An APOR refers to Authorized Persons Outside of Residence or those allowed to go out of their homes during the ECQ.
In a 30-minute Facebook Live video, rider Marvin Ignacio was barred from entering Barangay Muzon by a lady personnel from the city of San Jose Del Monte. She insisted that there was an ongoing curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. and that the rice porridge was not an essential item because humans can live without it.
The personnel showed a printed copy of Roque's slideshow to Ignacio, pointing out the curfew hours. She, however, ignored the disclaimer that APORs, workers, cargos, and public transport are not restricted by the curfew in her lecture and proceeded to the next page.
She likewise seemed to blame Grab, saying they should not be operating anymore at that time since it defeats the purpose of the ECQ.
"Bakit may Grab pa kasi?... Kasi hanggang bukas kayo, may taong lalabas, may magde-deliver. Nonsense, Sir… Hindi nyo ba naiintindihan (Why is Grab still operating?... While you still operate, people will still ask for deliveries. It’s really nonsense… Can’t you understand)?" she said.
On March 27, Roque said that delivery and courier services transporting food, medicine, or other essential goods will be allowed during the ECQ.
On Wednesday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez likewise said that food deliveries are allowed even past curfew.
"Yes. Pwede deliveries after curfew. Pero some delivery services naglagay ng time nila. Pero pwede dapat sila (Yes, deliveries are allowed after curfew. Some delivery services indicate their time of operations but they should be allowed)," he said.