Eleazar orders NCR cops to familiarize with new quarantine alert level system

Metro Manila policemen were ordered on Saturday, Sept, 8, to familiarize the new alert level system guidelines under the quarantine classifications that will be enforced in the National Capital Region.

The new guidelines for these quarantine classifications have already been provisionally approved.

Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he expects that operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) have already coordinated with the local government units (LGUs) by Sept. 16 to determine the quarantine alert in their areas of responsibility so they could effectively enforce the granular lockdowns

“Now that the guidelines for the quarantine alert system was already issued, I have tasked our police commanders in Metro Manila to make sure that all police personnel on the ground are fully informed of what is allowed and not permitted for each quarantine alert level,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar underscored the importance of coordination with local government units on the new guidelines, saying it is also a way of helping the healthcare workers who have been at the frontline of COVID-19 response for more than a year now.

“Masyadong bugbog na ang ating mga health care workers sa mahigit na isang taon nating pakikipaglaban sa COVID-19 at nakita ko mismo ito sa sitwasyon ng mga medical frontliners sa aming hanay Our healthcare workers are already tired due to the more than one year of being on the frontline in the COVID response and I myself saw it in our ranks,,” said Eleazar, referring to police medical forntliners taking care of policemen infected by the coronavirus.

“Kailangan nila ng tulong at reinforcement sa laban na ito at ito naman ang pakay ng mga alituntuning ipinapatupad ng ating pamahalaan upang huwag nang lumala ang pandemyang ito (They need help and reinforcement in this fight and this is actually the intention of the rules being implemented by the government in order to address the pandemic problem,” he added.

Among the provisions of the new guidelines are that under Alert Level 4, which is the highest risk classification, dine-in, personal services, and mass gatherings are not allowed.

Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) will also be limited to healthcare workers and returning and leaving Overseas Filipino Workers, which means that even government officials residing in areas that would be under localized lockdowns would not be allowed to go out.

Eleazar appealed for the public’s cooperation and understanding on these new regulations, noting that it is for the health and safety of everybody.