PNP: Checkpoints back in MECQ areas

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will set-up checkpoints anew in the borders of cities and towns under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

INQUIRER PHOTO /GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, on Monday said that the move is aimed at restricting residents in affected areas from crossing borders to purchase goods and avail of services.

“Basically, kung dati ang checkpoints natin ay doon sa mga boundary ng regions at ng mga probinsya, ‘yung mga apektado ng MECQ, pati boundary ng cities and municipalities dapat may mga checkpoints na rin tayo, kasi ang ating iiwasan diyan ay itong mga mag-a-avail ng goods and services na mangingibang bayan pa,” Eleazar said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(Basically, if before, our checkpoints are only in the boundaries of regions and provinces, now, the boundaries of cities and municipalities in areas to be placed under MECQ will again have checkpoints. What we want to avoid here is the purchase of goods and availing of services in other towns.)

Eleazar, however, said that authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) will still be able to cross the borders of cities and municipalities in areas to be placed again under MECQ.

President Rodrigo Duterte heeded the appeal of medical professionals to reimpose stricter lockdown measures in Metro Manila and nearby provinces due to the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases under relaxed community quarantine protocols.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan will be placed again under the stricter MECQ from August 4 to 18.

Eleazar said PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa has already issued orders for the task force to release guidelines to police unit commanders in affected areas on enforcing the quarantine measure.

He also appealed to residents in affected areas who are not authorized to leave their residences to stay home to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.

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