UNDER MECQ

PNP-HPG control points along EDSA pulled out

Control points situated along EDSA were already removed amid the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila, Philippine National Police spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said on Tuesday. 

"In fact dito naman sa EDSA, inalis na natin ang checkpoints ng HPG (Highway Patrol Group). Doon na lamang sa magkabilang dulo na at leading to EDSA," Banac said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV. 

Banac said policemen, who were tapped by the national government to man quarantine control points, would just conduct random checking of vehicles that will pass checkpoints to somehow help in easing the traffic on major roads. 

"Patuloy po na isinasagawa ng ating police frontliners ang pag-check sa lahat ng dumaraan sa quarantine control points natin. Ito ay ginagawa through a random manner. Ang ibig sabihin ay pinipili na lamang ang talagang tatanungin at gagawan ng thermal scanning dahil sa sobrang bigat ng daloy ng trapiko," Banac said. 

"Pinairal natin dito 'yung kutob ng pulis eh. Alam nila kung sino 'yung nagpapanggap at hindi so kapag tiningnan natin 'yan sa mata, 'pag 'di makatingin nang maayos ay isa na 'yan sa ating sisitahin..." he added. 

Banac pointed out that control points could not be totally removed as some areas are still under strict quarantine, meaning there are still limitations regarding the movement of the general public. 

"Hindi naman natin puwedeng tanggalin ang control points hanggang sa nasa modified ECQ tayo... Patuloy natin itong gagawin hanggang magkaroon tayo ng changes o transition sa general community quarantine," Banac said. 

In a separate radio interview, PNP-HPG director Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz said some of the HPG control points on EDSA were transferred to other major roads in the National Capital Region. 

"Inilipat natin ito sa mga ibang malalaking lansangan dito sa Metro Manila para po mabigyan ng kaluwagan itong EDSA dahil sa ngayon po kasi under sa MECQ ay mas marami na po tayong APOR (authorized persons outside residence) na pinapayagan po ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) so umaasa po tayo ng mas malaking volume ng sasakyan na gagamitin," Cruz said. 

He, however, said HPG personnel would continue to strictly monitor the situation along EDSA. 

"Habang tumatakbo po kayo, magugulat na lang kayo tatabihan kayo ng isang motorcycle rider ng HPG. Papatabihin po kayo para tanungin po kung kayo ba ay authorized individual," he said.

Metro Manila was among the high-risk areas that were placed under MECQ from May 16 to 31, from the previously more strict enhanced community quarantine.

The quarantines were imposed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News