Año wants tighter enforcement of NCR quarantine, asks Pinoys to cooperate

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday expressed the need for stricter enforcement of the community quarantine on Metro Manila, saying the number of COVID-19 infection cases could increase otherwise.

“Na-de-defeat din ‘yung purpose. ‘Yung implementation ng checkpoint ngayon ginagawa na. Nagsabi ako sa ating mga kapulisan na i-enforce strictly yung mga checkpoint,” he said.

“’Wag papasukin ‘yung mga symptoms at yung mga talagang walang valid reasons ‘wag papasukin at palabasin,” he added.

Año suggested issuing provisional permits for workers in Metro Manila as gate pass to the quarantine area borders.

He hit some Filipinos who are defying the authorities’ advice to stay at home amid the community quarantine imposed on Metro Manila and other areas in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.

“I want the people to cooperate, stay at home, kung wala naman kayong kailangang gawin dyan stay at home,” Año said.

“’Di ko maintindihan ‘yung mga tao bakit lumalabas pa rin, ano ba, tsina-challenge mo yung virus? Walang Superman dito,” he added.

A community quarantine to counter the spread of COVID-19 came into effect over Metro Manila at midnight Sunday. Uniformed personnel were deployed to man the borders at checkpoints.

Around 200 checkpoints were set up in different regions as the community quarantine in Metro Manila and other areas started. In NCR, around 2,000 police personnel manned the checkpoints.

No human rights violations

Año maintained that no human rights will be violated by police, saying the public can report any instances of abuse to the DILG.

"Wala pong human rights na maba-violate sa pagpapairal ng community quarantine na ito. Mayroon po tayong protocol na sinusunod," he said.

Año also slammed as “baseless” and “uncalled for” the accusations that the government is using the COVID-19 threat to impose a de-facto martial law.

"Nakakalungkot na sa panahong ganito… ay naiisip pa ng iba nating mga kababayan na akusahan ang pamahalaan nang paggamit sa krisis na ito para pairalin diumano ang batas militar. This is a global public health emergency not martial law," he said.

The Interior chief clarified that police will only advise people to return to their homes if they fail to present a valid proof of identification.

He added that a “one-strike policy” will be enforced to ensure that cops will not abuse their mandate during the community quarantine.

Interior Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the public may call the following numbers to report police abuse: Hotline 8888, Hotline 911, and the DILG Public Assistance and Complaints Center at 8925-0343.

Malaya explained that, at checkpoints, police may ask questions about the purpose of travel and request to see valid identification cards or certifications.

"Anumang paglabag ng ating kapulisan ay itawag ninyo lang sa amin, ireport po ninyo sa amin at kami na po ang bahala diyan. Kapag napatunayang tiwali ay agad nating aaksyonan at parurusahan," he said.

The Philippines has 111 cases and eight deaths due to the disease as of Saturday evening. —Joviland Rita and Julia Mari Ornedo/JST, GMA News