By Aaron Recuenco
Police commanders were directed to maintain heightened vigilance following President Duterte’s announcement on the extended implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures until April 30.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CoViD Shield) commander, said that the extension signifies that the threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic must be confronted vigorously. Eleazar directed all police commanders not to lower their guard against violators of the home quarantine. From March 17 to April 7, a total of 93,242 violators were accosted but 70.8 percent of them, or 66,063 people, were just warned not to repeat the offense. More than half of those accosted were from Luzon with 53,049 violators; a total of 17,380 violators were from the Visayas; 22,813 in Mindanao. A total of 4,392 were fined; 4,523 were charged while appropriate charges will be filed against 18,264 persons, based on the JTF CoViD Shield data. Eleazar cited reports that home quarantine rules are not strictly enforced by local police forces especially in the quarantine control points (QCPs) located near the boundaries of towns and cities. “I have also noticed during our (joint) inspections with the Director of the Highway Patrol Group, Police Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz that some police officers are becoming lenient in checking non-cargo vehicles for the unauthorized persons outside residence (UPOR),” said. “Those manning the QCPs have now more time to strictly enforce the IATF Guidelines on authorized persons outside residence (APOR) because they will no longer inspect cargo vehicles,” said Eleazar. Based on the latest JTF CoViD Shield data, there were 115 dedicated control points (DCPs) for cargo vehicles and 3,593 QCPs established in various parts of the country. “With the establishment of DCPs, this rule applies: DCPs shall inspect cargo vehicles and not the non-cargo vehicles; QCPs shall inspect non-cargo vehicles, not the cargo vehicles,” said Eleazar.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CoViD Shield) commander, said that the extension signifies that the threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic must be confronted vigorously. Eleazar directed all police commanders not to lower their guard against violators of the home quarantine. From March 17 to April 7, a total of 93,242 violators were accosted but 70.8 percent of them, or 66,063 people, were just warned not to repeat the offense. More than half of those accosted were from Luzon with 53,049 violators; a total of 17,380 violators were from the Visayas; 22,813 in Mindanao. A total of 4,392 were fined; 4,523 were charged while appropriate charges will be filed against 18,264 persons, based on the JTF CoViD Shield data. Eleazar cited reports that home quarantine rules are not strictly enforced by local police forces especially in the quarantine control points (QCPs) located near the boundaries of towns and cities. “I have also noticed during our (joint) inspections with the Director of the Highway Patrol Group, Police Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz that some police officers are becoming lenient in checking non-cargo vehicles for the unauthorized persons outside residence (UPOR),” said. “Those manning the QCPs have now more time to strictly enforce the IATF Guidelines on authorized persons outside residence (APOR) because they will no longer inspect cargo vehicles,” said Eleazar. Based on the latest JTF CoViD Shield data, there were 115 dedicated control points (DCPs) for cargo vehicles and 3,593 QCPs established in various parts of the country. “With the establishment of DCPs, this rule applies: DCPs shall inspect cargo vehicles and not the non-cargo vehicles; QCPs shall inspect non-cargo vehicles, not the cargo vehicles,” said Eleazar.