Recto urges IATF to ‘unburden’ police of issuing travel pass

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Friday said the police force should not be tasked with issuing travel passes to those going outside their provinces as he stressed that they have more important jobs to do in the frontlines amid the pandemic.

"The most important requirement is the medical certificate issued by a public health doctor. The pass issued by the police has no probative value," Recto said in a statement.

He pointed out that aside from manning checkpoints and becoming "pera padala force" in the distribution of emergency subsidies to communities, cops in "understaffed" police stations are now also required to process these paperworks for travel authority.

"So an officer who should be pounding his beat is now pounding his computer keyboard," Recto said.

He added that the IATF should also consider the hassle it would cost the travellers.

"Kung stranded ka sa isang lugar, wala ka nang pera, hindi mo kilala ang mga tao, hindi mo kabisado ang syudad, tapos wala ka pang masakyan papunta sa presinto, at pagdating mo doon kumpul-kumpol ang taong nakapila sa isang pulis na gumagawa ng pass, how is public health served in this scenario?" Recto asked.

Locally stranded individuals, and those leaving the provinces or Metro Manila for their family or medical emergencies are required to secure a travel authority from the Philippine National Police. —LDF, GMA News