(FILE) Devotees stop and pray as they pass by Quiapo Church in Manila and Baclaran Church in Parañaque City on Good Friday.📷:Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Police officers, especially ground commanders have been instructed by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar to monitor religious gatherings in Metro Manila after the government allowed religious gatherings of up to 30 percent.
Eleazar on Saturday said the police will be present to assist churchgoers and religious event participants in Metro Manila while enforcing safety protocols against COVID-19.
“Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, mas higit nating kailangan ang dasal at gabay ng Poong Maykapal upang makamit natin ang tagumpay laban sa COVID-19,” Eleazar said in a video message.
(Now that we are still in a pandemic, the more that we need prayers and the guidance of the Almighty so that we would emerge victorious against COVID-19.)
“At sa muling pagluluwag ng alituntunin sa religious gatherings, ang pakiusap lang namin ay sana ay masunod ang mga alituntunin sa minimum public health safety,” he added.
(And with the relaxation of restrictions on religious gatherings, we hope that you would follow the minimum public health safety rules.)
On Friday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved a 30 percent capacity for religious gatherings in Metro Manila.
Prior to IATF’s nod, churches — especially those within the National Capital Region (NCR) bubble which is under a general community quarantine (GCQ) — were only allowed a 10 percent capacity.
READ: Religious gatherings allowed up to 30% capacity in Metro Manila
The move aims to contain the transmission of COVID-19 and preventing a repeat of a surge that paralyzed Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces last March and April.
Eleazar urged local police units to coordinate with their respective religious leaders to maintain peace and order in the holding of religious events.
The PNP noted that some of the churches being frequented by people are mostly Roman Catholic like the Quiapo Church, the churches in Intramuros, Manila, and the Baclaran Church in Parañaque.
Eleazar said he is confident that health protocols like wearing masks and face shields along with maintaining physical distancing would be observed, with the help of religious leaders.
“Gaya ng bilin ko sa ating mga commanders, huwag na nating hintayin na hingan pa tayo ng tulong o may mangyaring paglabag bago tayo umaksyon. Kaya ngayon pa lang, inaasahan ko na ang ating mga chiefs of police na makipag-ugnayan sa mga religious leaders sa kanilang lugar upang pagtulungan na ang matiyak na ang alituntunin ng IATF ay masusunod,” he said.
(Like what I have told our commanders, let us not wait that people seek our help when quarantine protocols are violated before we act. That’s why as early as now, I expect our chiefs of police to coordinate with religious leaders to work out protocols and ensure that IATF regulations are followed.)
“Kami naman ay naniniwala na kayang itong gawin ng ating mga kababayan, with the guidance of our religious leaders, and the presence and assistance of your PNP,” he added.
(For our part, we believe that this can be done by our countrymen, with the guidance of our religious leaders, and the presence and assistance of your PNP.)