Eleazar vows 'maximum tolerance' after IATF allows children to go out in some areas

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday said police officers will be flexible in enforcing the new government policy allowing children to go outside of their homes in certain areas.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed children aged five and above to go outdoors to certain places in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). Local government units (LGUs) however may increase the age restriction of children depending on the COVID-19 situation in their respective jurisdictions.

Metro Manila mayors are set to meet on Sunday to discuss the matter.

In an interview over Dobol B TV, Eleazar instructed police officers to consistently coordinate with their respective LGUs of jurisdiction regarding this policy.

"'Yung mga pulis na on the ground may kanya-kanyang position at lagi silang nagko-coordinate sa mga local government units," he said.

(Police on the ground have their own position, and they must always coordinate with LGUs.)

To ensure that no abuse of authority will happen, lawmen will become flexible in implementing these guidelines, Eleazar said.

"Hindi lalabas na para bang napahigpitan na wala sa lugar. Ang flexibility na ito kasama ang maximum tolerance. At the end of the day, hindi dapat pahirapan ang kababayan. Sinasabi natin respeto lang sa isa't isa sa pag-implement ng guidelines," he said.

(It will not be implemented in a way that the enforcement will be abused. There will be maximum tolerance. At the end of the day there should be mutual respect between police and civilians based on these guidelines.)

For areas under GCQ and MGCQ, the government allowed children aged five and above to go to the beach, park, playground, outdoor tourism areas, and biking and hiking trails. Children are allowed to go to these places provided they are accompanied by adults. Health protocols must continue to be followed, the government said.

This policy however is not to be implemented in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions, such as Laguna and Cavite. —KG, GMA News