Considerations may be applied for ‘gray areas’ in quarantine checkpoints — Eleazar

MANILA, Philippines — Law enforcers detailed at quarantine checkpoints may apply “humanitarian considerations” for people to travel within quarantined areas for cases under the so-called “gray areas,” the leadership of the Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield said on Monday.

In an interview during an online streaming of ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, task force chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was asked if a person can travel using a private vehicle to deliver goods to an elderly relative who is stranded in a different city within Metro Manila, to which he replied: “Basically hindi po pwede ‘yun. ‘Yung matanda, aalamin natin kung sila ba ay pwede lumabas para kumuha ng basic services or mga essential needs.”

(Basically, that’s not allowed. For the elderly, we will identify if they can go out to avail of basic services or essential needs.)

“Pero alam nyo po kasi, in case of doubt pwedeng pumunta tayo sa mga humanitarian considerations at ‘yan naman po ay iniintindi sa ating checkpoints sa mga sinasabi nating cases na talagang nasa gray area. Pwede po pumasok ‘yun sa ating humanitarian consideration,” he added.

(But you know, in case of doubt, we can refer to humanitarian considerations and this is being applied in our checkpoints for cases under gray area. This may fall under humanitarian consideration.)

Meanwhile, Eleazar also said the police are visiting establishments that have opened after quarantine measures were eased on May 16 to check if health protocols are being observed.

He said the police will meet with security managers of malls in Metro Manila on Tuesday to discuss how to better implement health protocols, including physical distancing, in their establishments.

In a separate statement, Eleazar also urged the public to refrain from going out of their homes for unnecessary travel under eased quarantine measures, saying this will only endanger their lives and the lives of their families.

As people flocked to the malls when quarantine measures were relaxed in most parts of the country, Eleazar reminded the public that the threats of the coronavirus disease are still present.

“Ipinapa-alala ko lang sa ating mga kababayan na pinayagan ng ating pamahalaan na magbukas ang ilang mga business establishment para sa po ating ekonomiya, hindi para tayo ay mag-lakwatsa,” said the police official.

(I just want to remind the public that the government allowed some business establishments to open for our economy, not for us to loiter around.)

EDV