Stranded people processing docs to go home but don't have quarantine passes won't be arrested, PNP chief says

Locally stranded individuals (LSIs) with no quarantine passes will not be arrested by law enforcers if they go out and process their requirements in order to go home, Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Monday.

In a television interview, Gamboa was asked what would be the arrangement for LSIs with no quarantine passes given that the police were tasked to arrest immediately the violators of the strict quarantine.

"Mayroon nga kaming classification, 'yung locally stranded individuals. I will also disseminate after this na dapat iba 'yung trato kapag LSI dahil our intention is pauwiin siya sa probinsiya kung saan niya gusto umuwi... Putting restraints dito para di siya makauwi will not actually meet kung ano 'yung gusto nating mangyari," Gamboa told ANC.

"Rest assured the Philippine National Police will take it with an open mind... kung walang quarantine pass and they would just go to the police just to get clearance, we'll facilitate, we will do that," he added.

He also encouraged students stranded in Metro Manila to go to local police stations so that they could get assistance if they wish to go home amid the modified enhanced community quarantine.

Gamboa said students should go to the National Capital Region Police Office to ask for travel authority if their residence is in another region. Earlier, the national government said permit to travel from one region to another will be issued by the police regional director.

Due to the lack of public transportation, the PNP chief said the students as well as other stranded individuals may just proceed to local police stations.

"If there's a problem on access, he can just go to the nearest police station and then we will facilitate. Probably, doon na natin titingnan sa police station kung ano 'yung requirements and we can require the regional director to issue that clearance and then bale email or electronic means, the regional director can send it to the concerned station," Gamboa explained.

"We will make things as much as comfortable as possible based on the restrictions that we have right now in the National Capital Region,” he added.

This came following the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the police to set up help desks in police stations to cater to the needs of LSIs as well as returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs)

According to DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, the police help desks must process applications for travel authorities to allow LSIs and ROFs to return to their respective homes after being stranded due to the strict quarantine.

The public may contact the PNP Command Center for any inquiries regarding the guidelines for LSIs and ROFs: 09988490013 for Smart users and 09175382495 for Globe subscribers.

The DILG said LGUs were also tasked to provide food and transportation support to ROFs and LSIs.—AOL, GMA News