Eleazar: Police to add quarantine checkpoints in MECQ areas

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield will add quarantine checkpoints to ensure that only authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) will leave their homes amid the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Monday, task force commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said checkpoints would also prevent individuals from crossing from one municipality to another just to avail basic goods.

"Dahil po sa pagtataas ng level ng quarantine status, in essence po ay magdadagdag tayo ng checkpoint operations. Kung dati po 'yung paglipat natin ng GCQ, usually 'yung ating quarantine control points ay nasa boundary na lang ng probinsiya at mga rehiyon, dito po sa mga lugar under MECQ ay 'yun pong mga boundary ng cities and municipalities, maglalagay na po tayo diyan," Eleazar said.

"So that only APOR will be allowed to pass. 'Yun pong mga non-APOR na mag-a-avail o bibili nitong mga goods and services na available, 'yan po ay dapat i-avail nila doon sa lugar nila. Hindi na sila puwedeng mag-cross po ng cities and municipalities," he added.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said local government units would enforce again the use of quarantine passes in MECQ areas from August 4 to 18.

He reminded the public to go out of their homes if it is only for availing essential goods.

Aside from the National Capital Region, President Rodrigo Duterte also placed the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal under MECQ after medical frontliners had asked for a two-week stricter quarantine status so they could rest and recalibrate strategies to fight COVID-19.

So far, the Philippines has 103,185 COVID-19 infections. — RSJ, GMA News