By Jeffrey Damicog  Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has sought to allay the public’s fears during the month-long community quarantine over Metro Manila. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (Screenshot / RTVM / PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) “We are not in a state of martial law,” Guevarra told reporters on Saturday (March 14). “We are fighting a common but relatively unknown enemy, a dangerous and lethal virus known as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).” President Duterte recently announced the imposition of a “community quarantine” over Metro Manila starting March 15 up to April 14 after the Department of Health raised the alert to Code Red Sublevel 2 due to the rising number of cases and deaths from COVID-19. “The PNP (Philippine National Police), assisted by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), will be on the streets not to sow fear but to protect us,” assured Guevarra. “So let us please cooperate and help each other until this public health emergency is over.” The Secretary reminded the public that “this is a phenomenon that is happening not only in our country, but also elsewhere around the world.” “By standing united and fighting together, we shall beat this enemy,” he said. On the other hand, Guevarra also said no arrests will be made unless laws or ordinances were violated. “Kung walang ordinance (if no ordinance was violated), no arrests (as in detention) can be made.” At the checkpoints, the justice secretary said law enforcement agencies shall only “physically prevent actual movements (entry into or exit from Metro Manila), unless covered by the exceptions or on highly justifiable grounds.” “But if the person assaults the law enforcement agent, or slanders him, or bribes him, then that's cause for a warrantless arrest,” he warned.