First day of 'NCR Plus' ECQ generally peaceful but with challenges —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the first day of the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region and four adjacent provinces has been generally peaceful so far.

In an update issued Monday afternoon, the PNP said the public was substantially compliant to the protocols set by the government in connection with the ECQ implementation.

However, the PNP said among the "challenges" encountered by enforcers during their implementation were the disregard to the limited capacity in public transport especially in jeepneys.

Aside from this, the PNP also said some motorcycles have no barriers or separators as required by the government.

The PNP added that people who failed to present IDs to prove that they are essential workers or authorized persons outside residence delayed the traffic flow at checkpoints.

Despite these challenges, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag said the ECQ implementation went peaceful.

“In general, peaceful po ang implementasyon nito at compliant po ang ating mga tao sa pagpapatupad ng ECQ,” he said at the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday.

(“In general, the implementation was peaceful and the people were compliant in the implementation of ECQ.”)

Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the past weeks, the national government placed NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal or "NCR Plus" under ECQ from March 29 to April 4 with a new set of regulations.

Under ECQ, only authorized persons outside residence (APOR) including essential workers are allowed to go outside their homes. —KBK, GMA News