Eleazar calls on troops to remain vigilant in areas where GCQ will be enforced

The commander of Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Friday urged security forces to remain vigilant despite the easing of quarantine measures in some areas after April 30.

"While the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) will still be in place in these areas until the middle of next month, the strict implementation of home quarantine measures will be partly eased in most provinces and regions of the country after April 30," Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

"But our troops in those areas are expected to remain vigilant and continue to implement the guideline of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) pertaining to this," Eleazar added.

Earlier, the national government announced that the ECQ in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and other high-risk areas would be extended until May 15.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said provinces and regions considered as moderate- and low-risk in the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) beginning on May 1.

Eleazar said the task force would wait for the guidelines if ever there will be changes in the implementation of the ECQ and the GCQ.

"The Filipino people are relying on us for their protection, for their safety in this time of pandemic. Let the assurance of the safety of our family, our friends, and our fellow Filipinos from COVID-19 serves as the source of strength and determination for us to continuously perform the task assigned to us," he said.

Meanwhile, he urged cops not to be affected with the supposed bashing and unfair allegations being thrown against them, especially on social media.

"Let us not be distracted by all of these and instead, focus on our mandate of serving and protecting our people from the threat of this fatal disease," Eleazar said.

In a separate Dobol B sa News TV interview, Eleazar called on the public to follow the guidelines of the government in this period of crisis, reiterating that no warning will be issued against violators as they will immediately be arrested.

"Hanggang sa April 30, kung ano man po ang ipinatutupad natin ngayon kasama ang AFP at iba pang law enforcement agencies, 'yan po ay maigting na ipatutupad..." Eleazar said. — RSJ, GMA News