Palace stands by policy to restrict senior citizens’ movement amid pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday stood by the government’s quarantine restrictions on senior citizens, saying the policy was borne out of science and medicine.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement in response to a petition reportedly filed by a retired government official asking the Supreme Court to stop the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) from imposing restrictions on senior citizens during the pandemic.

“The IATF cannot be bothered by this suit. Karapatan niya yan. Pero naninindigan po ang IATF na yung prohibition sa galaw ng senior is borne by science and medicine,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(The IATF cannot be bothered by this suit. That’s his right.  But the IATF stands by the prohibition of senior citizens is borne by science and medicine.)

Roque also expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would dismiss the petition.

“Pero itong kaso po, bagamat hindi natin pinapangunahan ang Supreme Court, tingin ko po wala pong mangyayari dyan dahil isa sa acknowledged the power of the state is the power of police power. At ang basehan po sa pag-exercise ng police power ay yung pangalagaan ang kalusugan mismo ng seniors,” he said.

(But in this case, though we don’t want to preempt the Supreme Court, I think nothing will happen there because police power is one of the acknowledged powers of the state. The basis of that is to care for the health among seniors.)

Under the IATF’s guidelines, persons aged 21 below and 60 above are not allowed to go out unless it is for accessing essential goods and services and for work.

“So to the petitioner, ito pong pagbabawal sa inyong movement outside of your residence except for work and to procure necessities is for your own benefit. It is to protect your lives amidst the proving fact po na ang mga namamatay sa COVID-19, karamihan po senior citizens,” Roque said.

(So to the petitioner, this restriction of movement outside of your residence except for work and to procure necessities is for your own benefit.  It is to protect your lives amidst the proving fact that many of those who died from COVID-19 are senior citizens.)  [ac]