MANILA, Philippines — Expect more enforcers to implement stricter health protocols as the general community quarantine (GCQ) will take effect on Aug. 19, Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield commander Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Tuesday.
“When we say ma-strictly enforce, we will mobilize barangay tanod or force multiplier or yung quarantine supervisor parang COVID-19 focal person,” the high-ranking police official said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
(When we say strictly enforce, we mean we will mobilize barangay tanod or force multiplier or quarantine supervisor or the COVID-19 focal person.)
Barangay officials and members of newly established Barangay Disiplina Brigades will be tapped to help law enforcers in implementing the health rules, Eleazar also noted.
The Barangay Disiplina Brigades is part of the government’s advocacy program to police residents who violate the coronavirus lockdown protocols.
Law enforcers will also strictly implement ordinances of local governments against violators of the community quarantine, Eleazar also noted.
“Itong sinasabi ng city mayors, we will implement this strictly. Meaning kung may batas o may ordinance na pagbabasihan, gagawin natin yan. Kasi nandun tayo yung puro patawad tawad lang puro sita sita so dahil may corresponding ordinansa na, sundin natin yun,” he said.
(The mayors’ orders, we will implement this strictly. Meaning if there is a law or ordinance that we can base, we can do that. Since we always forgive or always warn but now there are ordinances, we can follow that.)
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac vowed that police would maintain the quarantine checkpoints to make sure only authorized individuals are going outside of their homes.
“These include the setting up of Quarantine Control Points to ensure that only authorized individuals on essential travel are allowed outside their homes and to enforce restrictions on certain modes of public conveyance,” Banac said in a statement.
Eleazar, for his part, said they will focus on placing quarantine checkpoints between provinces or regions.
During the MECQ, checkpoints are placed in cities and municipal boundaries of Metro Manila and other provinces. [ac]