NCRPO looks to readjust cop deployment to give free rides during MECQ

Commuters wait for free shuttle and their respective company shuttle service while strictly observing social distancing at Commonwealth Avenue in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, as the National Capital Region (NCR) reverted to a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) due to rising COVID-19 cases. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is looking into readjusting the deployment of policemen to use police vehicles for free transportation services of essential workers while public transport is banned during the enforcement of the stricter quarantine.

“Sa ngayon, mag-usap muna kami siguro i-consider namin yan. Pinadala ‘yung mga tao namin sa QCP (quarantine control points) so baka ma-readjust namin,” NCRPO chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas said in a press conference on Tuesday when asked if police will give free rides to essential workers.

(For now, we will talk first to consider that. Some of our people were deployed to quarantine control points so we might readjust.)

“We are hoping na yung Ceres Bus Company pahiramin kami para sa deployment namin at pwede kami magpasakay, pero hindi sa Ceres bus. ‘Yung available naming ibang sasakyan. ‘Yung sa PNP lang para malaman ng mga tao,” he added.

(We are hoping that Ceres Bus Company would lend us some of their buses for deployment so that we can give free rides but not on the Ceres bus. Only at our available vehicles. We can use the cars of Philippine National Police so that people can be familiar.)

The government placed Metro Manila and nearby areas were placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for over two weeks starting August 4.

The return of a stricter lockdown also required the establishment of checkpoints at boundaries of cities and towns which was different from general community quarantine where QCPs are placed at boundaries of regions and provinces.

The Philippine National Police already has an existing free shuttle service for workers while transportation is limited during general community quarantine.

CFC