PNP vows to be vigilant as NCR, other provinces back to GCQ

Following President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to place Metro Manila and other high-risk provinces back under general community quarantine, the Philippine National Police on Tuesday vowed to remain vigilant in enforcing quarantine protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued Tuesday, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said quarantine control points would still be in place to ensure that only authorized individuals on essential travel are going outside their residences.

"The PNP operations will remain guided by the fundamental guidelines of DILG and IATF," Banac said.

"We appeal to residents in affected communities to cooperate with local government and law enforcement authorities in enforcing quarantine rules and health protocols to further minimize transmission of the infection," he added.

In a separate radio interview, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said there would be a stricter implementation of the GCQ to ensure that virus transmission can be prevented.

Eleazar said local government units should also issue ordinances to ensure that health protocols will always be followed by the public.

"Alam ninyo kasi mas marami tayong parang binibigyan lang ng paalala pero sa ngayon dahil kalimitan naman dito sa mga protocols na ito ay meron ng katapat na mga city or municipal ordinances lalo na 'yung pagsusuot ng facial masks pati na rin 'yung observance of physical distancing ay dapat po diyan sa more than 150 days na ating pinagdaanan tapos na po siguro 'yung puro paalala... dapat sumunod na sila dahil ito naman po ay kinakailangan natin sa ating programa lalo na at talagang tumataas ang infection na nararanasan ng Metro Manila," he explained.

"Pinakamaganda talaga mayroong corresponding specific ordinance na sa tingin ko ay unti-unti na ilalabas ng mga LGUs kagaya noong wearing of facial masks na naranasan natin sa mga nakaraang buwan," Eleazar added.

Duterte announced that the following areas will be under GCQ from August 19 until August 31: Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Quezon, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City in Cebu, and the municipalities of Minglanilla and Consolacion.

He added that the rest of the country will be placed under modified GCQ. — RSJ, GMA News