Cargo ships, trucks being used by LSIs to go back to their provinces —Año

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said stricter measures would be implemented in the operation of cargo ships and trucks as some of them are being used by locally stranded individuals to return to their home provinces.

In a radio interview, Año claimed that some LSIs or what he referred to as "guerillas" are not coordinating with local authorities regarding their travel after getting the necessary documents. They will just board cargo ships and trucks to go home.

"Pagkuha niya ng medical certificate at travel pass, hindi na siya makikipag-coordinate sa pamahalaan kung paano pupunta doon. Sasakay siya sa mga cargo ships, cargo trucks, babayaran niya 'yung crew para pasakayin siya. Pagdating niya sa lugar, hindi na siya magchecheck-in sa LGU, uuwi na siya, doon nagsimula 'yun na mag-spike," Año explained.

"Mga cargo ships ang mga sinakyan. Kaya nga maghihigpit din kami sa mga cargo ships, huwag kayong magsasakay na hindi naman 'yan talaga kasama sa manifesto ninyo kasi mananagot kayo," he added.

Año has ordered the temporary suspension of the issuance of travel authority to LSIs going to Eastern Visayas. He said local chief executives had requested to "declog" first their isolation facilities before accepting new LSIs.

The total number of infections in the region is now at 467, with the latest cases coming from Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Samar.

Three fatalities were also recorded in the region.—AOL, GMA News