Duterte '50/50' on lifting ECQ, wants to finalize decision this week -Roque

President Rodrigo Duterte wants to make a decision this week regarding the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine that is set to expire on April 30, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Roque said Duterte likes to reach the resolution so the government could already prepare for it.

"Ang sabi niya nais na niyang magdesisyon itong linggong ito dahil kinakailangang paghandaan anuman ang kanyang desisyon,” Roque said.

Asked on the chances of lifting the current measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Roque says, “Siguro, 50/50.”

In his regular press briefing, Roque said the President's decision will be guided by science.

"We are hoping and praying that the right decision will be made," he said. "The decision is one of the most difficult decisions that the President has to be made. He will be guided by science."

For his part, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles asked the public to support whatever decision the President makes.

"Ano man ang maging desisyon ng ating Pangulo, alam ninyo na ito ay base sa mga parameters na nai-set na po natin – iyong epidemiological curve, ang ating healthcare capacity, ang ating social factors, economic factors at peace and order and security factors po natin," he said.

The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was first imposed on March 17, and was originally scheduled to end on April 13. But on April 7, the government extended it until April 30.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday said the Inter-Agency Task Force is set to send Duterte the recommendations on the enhanced community quarantine by April 25, Sunday.

“Of course it would be the president who shall decide whether the enhanced community quarantine will be lifted, or modified or partially lifted or even extended,” Año added. --Joviland Rita and Virgil Lopez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News