As the national government's task force on coronavirus response gas allowed children five years old above to go out, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar urged parents to teach their kids in following the rules on health safety protocols amid the continuous threats of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Kasama sa paglabas ng alituntuning ito galing sa IATF ( (Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases) ay ang mabigat na responsibilidad sa mga magulang na protektahan ang kanilang mga menor de edad na anak laban sa COVID-19,Part of the rules from the IATF is a responsibility for the parents to ensure that their children are protected from COVID-19)," said Eleazar.
“Nararapat lamang na sa murang kaisipan ng mga bata ay ipakita na natin ang pagiging responsable sa pagsunod ng minimum public health safety protocols upang maitanim na sa puso at isip nila ang pagsunod sa mga alituntunin bilang isang responsableng mamamayan (It is but right then to teach them in their youn age how to be responsible in following the minimum public health safety protocols so that they would learn the lessons on how to be esponsible citizens,” he added.
In its latest decision, the IATF allowed five-year old children and above to go out in open areas of General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine areas. But this does not cover areas under GCQ "with heightened restrictions", such as Laguna and Cavite.
Eleazar, however, reminded the public there are some areas where children are still prohibited such as malls.
The PNP Chief warned that parents could be sanctioned if they do not abide by this latest rule: “Kung may mga paglabag sa mga panuntuhan ay ang mga magulang ang siyang mananagot (If there are violators of these rules, then they should be sanctioned).”
On the part of the PNP, Eleazar ordered all policemen enforcing the community quarantine to set a good example on the following the rules to the children.
“With this development, inaatasan ko ang lahat ng kapulisan na hindi lamang maging ehemplo sa pagsunod ng mga alituntunin laban sa COVID-19 kung hindi maging maingat sa pananalita at sa gawa sa mga magulang at iba pang taong may kasamang bata na lalabag sa health safety protocol (I am ordering all policemen not only to set a good example but to be careful in their words and actions in dealing with violators who are with children,” said Eleazar.
"Sa murang kaisipan ng mga bata ay ipakita na natin kung ano tunay na kahulugan ng pulis- tapat, magalang at may integridad. Ang sinumang lalabag ay mananagot sa akin (At their young age, let us shw to the children the real meaning of being a policeman-- courteous, honest and with integrity),” he added.