IATF: Martial law still off the table despite rise in number of quarantine violators

MANILA, Philippines — The declaration of martial law is not being considered despite the recent rise in the number of individuals caught violating guidelines of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) handling the government’s COVID-19 crisis response said Thursday.

The task force earlier announced that it will enforce a stricter implementation of lockdown measures after it had observed an increased number of ECQ violators and vehicles on Edsa and major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 108,088 have so far violated lockdown rules as of Monday.

However, this will not prompt the government to consider declaring martial law, Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles said.

“For you to use or declare martial law ano po ‘yun (there should be) rebellion or invasion. So hindi po pinag-uusapan ‘yan,” Nograles said in a virtual press briefing.

Authorities have so far issued 71 official violation receipts (OVRs) and Land Transportation Office temporary operator’s permit (TOP) against road traffic and quarantine violators who were caught along major Metro Manila highways, data from the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) showed.

The PNP-HPG is now handing out tickets to individuals who were caught outside their homes but not included in the list Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) amid the lockdown.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the entire Luzon, the country’s political and economic center, under a month-long enhanced community quarantine to cut the further spread of COVID-19. The quarantine was extended until April 30.

The order stopped all public transportation and strictly enforced home quarantine as work for the majority of the region’s residents was suspended.

Exempted from the lockdown, however, are all businesses, services, and activities related to the production or provision of food, medicine, and health, banking, and finance, public utilities, mass media among others

The government is now appealing for the public’s cooperation as the Luzon lockdown reaches the “last stretch.”

“Siyempre lahat naman tayo gusto nang pumunta doon sa new normal pero siyempre ‘yung decision points also ng gobyerno will be based on the attitude and the conduct ng lahat ng ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na sa Luzon lalong lalo na sa NCR,” Nograles said.

“In the words of Sec. Año, nasa last stretch na tayo, konting sacrifice nalang.”

/MUF