Duterte tells stranded people to go to military camps for help

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said people who are stranded due to the enforcement of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine can go to military camps for assistance.

In an address streamed online, the President said the Air Force and the Army are prepared to help stranded Filipinos “wherever they are.”

“Kung wala ka nang mauwian, kung wala na kayong matulugan, I am asking the military commanders of the different camps all over the country that you can go there and ask for accommodation at pagkain and they will only be too willing to help you,” he said.

Hundreds of people have been denied entry to various cities across Luzon as uniformed personnel enforce a strict lockdown in a bit to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in the country.

People who were stranded were also not able to observe social distancing measures prescribed by the government due to overcrowding.

“That is a very terrible thing, you know. As a matter of fact, it would have been very cruel for you to [be driven] away, lalo na ‘yong mga batang nagbakasyon tapos walang uuwian, walang tatanggap. My heart bleeds for them,” the President said.

The entire Luzon is under quarantine until April 13.

Duterte has described the situation as a “lockdown.”

“I think that we are already in the stage of lockdown simply because the contagion continues to take its toll on the countryside,” he said. -- BAP, GMA News