PNP ORDERS TIGHTER CHECKPOINT MEASURES

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) instructed police officers manning checkpoints to be more strict in scrutinizing the documents presented by travelers to contain the MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER MODIfiED enhanced community quarantine.

LtGen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief for operations and commander of the Joint Task Force Covid-19 Shield, said PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa issued a directive on the implementation of tighter measures in checkpoints following reports that some persons authorized to go outside their residence have used their passes for unnecessary travel.

Police officers were instructed to check the home address and place of work of travelers to determine whether or not their travel is essential.

Eleazar said stricter rules should be implemented to limit the movement of people to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The police official cited reports from policemen that some persons issued identification cards by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Only frontliners of persons working in industries allowed by the government are allowed to travel.

“However, we have been receiving reports from our personnel on the ground that there are some abuses committed since those given exemptions travel anywhere they want and anytime they want, which are basically violations of the existing quarantine rules,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“They should not use this exemption to engage in travels that are not connected to their jobs because this is really unfair to the majority of our fellow Filipinos who are strictly abiding the government’s prohibition not to engage in nonessential travels in this time of pandemic,” he continued.

Eleazar admitted that the PNP had no “inventory of cases” detailing the number of persons who abused their authority to go outside their homes.

“Some essential workers thought that if they are an Apor (authorized persons outside residence), they can go outside automatically even if it’s not related to their work,” he said.

“It would be a great help if these people would just stay at home,” he added.