Gatchalian welcomes possible deployment of military for quarantine enforcement, says it's practical

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said he agrees with President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to deploy military personnel to communities for enforcement of quarantine protocols to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, the senator underscored that the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is currently the "most potent" strategy to arrest the spread of COVID-19 but it demands the physical presence of barangay officials and policemen who are also falling ill.

"Dito sa Valenzuela almost 2,000 barangay officials and police ang nagpositive na sa amin ngayon," he said.

"I agree that we need to mobilize the military in so far as putting more boots on the ground in enforcing the MECQ because if we don't enforce the MECQ to the letter then it is useless closing the economy and not enforcing it well," he added.

Metro Manila and other nearby provinces were placed under MECQ again from August 4 to 18.

"For practical purposes, you really need to have more enforcers on the ground and this is where the military plays a very big role," the senator went on to say.

On Monday, Duterte said he plans to deploy the military to augment the police force in enforcing quarantine restrictions.

"The military is not part of the governance yet in the matter of using force or at least intimidating you with soldiers. Far from it, we do not have that plan," Duterte said.

"But upang hindi talaga madala and it’s a runaway contagion, mapipilitan ako maggamit ng military kasi talagang kulang ang pulis. Ngayon, kung nandiyan ang military to enforce you to obey itong community lockdown, sumunod kayo dahil para sa inyo ‘yan," he added.

Duterte likewise tapped the police to transport contact tracers to the homes of potential COVID-19 cases.

Senator Joel Villanueva recognized the importance of mobilizing all the resources available but underscored that quarantine protocol enforcers should also be protected from COVID-19.

He added that the implementation of quarantine rules must be in the most humane way possible.

"Our enforcers should exercise maximum tolerance in implementing COVID policies. Everyone is under immense pressure—from COVID, unemployment, loss of loved ones, etc," Villanueva said.

Militaristic approach?

Gatchalian said he does not see militarization in the current government response to the pandemic.

He acknowledged that several officials in the National Task Force against COVID-19 were retired military generals—chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano—but opined that it does not equate to militarization.

"When you say militarization, military nagpapatakbo ng COVID stategy natin pero 'di naman military nagpapatakbo, ang nagpapatakbo retired generals," Gatchalian said.

The senator emphasized that the health crisis, especially during the onset of the pandemic, does not only involve medical issues but also logistical ones.

"Noong una tayong nagkakaproblema, ang problema natin is not only medical eh. 'Yung distribution ng PPE is not medical in nature eh, it's logistics. Dapat magaling ka sa logistics," he said.

Gatchalian said he believes the appointment of leaders for the COVID-19 response was "task-driven."

Asked if the actual implementation by uniformed personnel on the ground would not pave the way for militarization, the lawmaker said no.

"The military support on the ground is purely support. Wala silang sariling operations dito. Ang may police power lang si mayor at si police chief PNP eh so they have to be deputized by these two," Gatchalian said, citing his firsthand experience in Valenzuela.

"They cannot move without the order of the chief of police and the mayor," he added.

In April, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations raised concerns over the Philippine government's “highly militarized response” to quarantine violators.

Gatchalian maintained his position that enforcers in military uniform will help in the effective enforcement of protocols.

"Kung mas maraming naka-fatigue on the ground, mas susunod ang tao... Nakita ko na malaking psychological impact 'yung naka-fatigue at hindi naka-fatigue. In fact, malayo pa lang ang mga tao nagtatakbuhan na, pumapasok na sa loob," he previously said. -- BAP, GMA News