CEBU CITY – It seems that the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) are not on the same page.
The two Philippine National Police organizations have seemingly been in virtual disagreement on whether to recognize Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s executive order lifting the mandatory wearing of facemasks in open spaces.
As far as CPPO is concerned, the governor’s executive is a law that must be followed.
“The PNP (Philippine National Police) is mandated to enforce the law. Hence, Cebu PPO will support whatever is legal and supported by existing laws,” said Col. Engelbert Soriano, provincial director of CPPO.
He said EO 16 of Cebu signed by Governor Garcia remains a law as far as Cebu province is concerned.
“We recognize that (EO), unless it is later on invalidated by proper authority,” added Soriano.
On June 8, 2022, Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) No. 16 which she said ‘rationalizes the wearing of facemasks within Cebu.
The governor said that as a necessary step towards the new normal, there is a need to rationalize the requirement on wearing of masks, something that CPPO is recognizing and supporting.
However, the higher police authority, the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, said it will comply with the directives of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which had stated that it is not recognizing the governor’s EO 16 and that it is reminding the public of possible arrest if the wearing of face mask policy is not observed.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the department is not recognizing Garcia’s EO in consideration of the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) and approved by President Duterte.
“In compliance with the DILG directives, PRO 7 continues to remind the public to observe the minimum public health standards which include the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places as set by IATF-MEID guidelines,” said Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega, regional director of PRO 7.
Año warned that the police will continue to ‘confront, apprehend and arrest, if necessary’ those who will violate quarantine protocols, including the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places.
Vega then called on the public to “work together in collective action.”
“Hindi lang to responsibilidad ng mga frontliners kundi responsibilidad rin nating lahat. Huwag pa rin tayong maging kampante sa ngayon at siguraduhin palaging mapagmatyag sa lahat ng oras dahil ang Covid-19 ay nandito pa rin (It is not only the responsibility of the frontliners but a responsibility of everyone. Let us not be complacent and stay alert at all times because Covid-19 is still around,” said Vega.
Soriano however toned down his stand, saying that Garcia’s EO “only gives the option to use masks in well-ventilated and open spaces.”
“In all other situations, a mask is still required. It actually encourages people to wear it in closed and crowded places and when with symptoms. In the latter case, the PNP will come in for appropriate enforcement,” Soriano said.