Eleazar: Cops to check establishments for unauthorized workers during MECQ

MANILA, Philippines — Police will be inspecting establishments that are allowed to reopen in areas during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to make sure that their workers are authorized to be out of their homes and to check if quarantine protocols are being followed, a high-ranking police official said Friday.

“‘Yung pong police visibility sa mga establishmento na permitted to operate, they will check not only the physical distancing observance and the wearing of masks kung hindi pati na rin masiguro na walang unauthorized person na nasa labas,” Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, head of Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield, said over dzMM when asked about enforcing lockdown rules as more authorized persons are allowed to go out after some areas are reclassified as MECQ.

(The police visibility in establishments that are permitted to operate, they will check not only the physical distancing observance and the wearing of masks but also to ensure that no unauthorized person will be going out.)

Eleazar said in a text message that unauthorized persons found outside of their homes during the GCQ will be arrested “unless for humanitarian considerations” as per orders of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa.

This came after the government allowed more businesses to operate during the MECQ areas such as those manufacturing cement and steel, mining and in quarrying, electronic commerce firms, and export-oriented companies, among others.

Eleazar also warned motorists of heavy traffic flow as said the police will also be conducting random inspections of authorized persons in vehicles.

“Asahan natin na maraming sasakyan ang lalabas dahil marami na ang authorized kaya it will be a challenge for JTF Covid Shield lalo na ang PNP through our quarantine checkpoint, hindi natin pwedeng icheck lahat ng dadaang sasakyan diyan at kung gagawin natin yan tutuhog yung traffic,” Eleazar said.

(Expect that there will be more vehicles to go outside because there will be more authorized persons which will be a challenge for JTF COVID Shield especially PNP through our quarantine checkpoints, we can’t check every vehicle because it will link to traffic.)

“Gagawin namin diyan depende sa sitwasyon, pwedeng at random ichecheck natin and napakahalaga po ng checkpoints ng mobile Highway Patrol Group na kapag natsamabahan yung itong violator talagang masasampahan ng kaso,” he added.

(What we will do depends on the situation, we can conduct random checking and it is important for our mobile checkpoints of Highway Patrol Group that if they find violators, they will file cases.)

The PNP previously authorized its Highway Patrol Group to put up mobile checkpoints to issue tickets to private motorists found violating the quarantine guidelines.

/MUF