Pimentel, Lacson urge PNP to review ban on ‘hatid-sundo’ for APORs during ECQ | Inquirer News

Pimentel, Lacson urge PNP to review ban on ‘hatid-sundo’ for APORs during ECQ

/ 11:42 PM August 04, 2021

couple on a motorbike

“Hatid-sundo” is a common practice among working couples. This photo was taken on July 10, 2020 at a checkpoint on Ortigas Avenue Extension at the boundary between Pasig and Cainta in Rizal. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday to review its new rule barring authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) from being taken to or fetched from their destinations during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in Metro Manila.

The practice is commonly known in Filipino as “hatid-sundo.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) and PNP need to review this rule,” Pimentel said.

FEATURED STORIES

“There are some doctors who render ‘duty’ for four consecutive days and NEED TO BE DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORKPLACE. Why make life more difficult for our frontliners?” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Lacson, a former PNP chief, likewise advised the police to “at least take a second look” at restricting the “hatid-sundo” practice for APORs.

Article continues after this advertisement

Workforce APORs include medical workers and those working in essential establishments like restaurants, supermarkets, banks, and the like.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Hopefully, there will be no sudden restrictions, to a point of being impractical if not illogical. Instead, they may want to exert a little extra effort to find a possible win-win solution,” Lacson said, partly in Filipino, in a statement.

“There might be a way to satisfy both health concerns and a little convenience for our APORs who need to work to feed their families, or render indispensable service to others, like health workers and other frontliners,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Earlier, the PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said fetching APORs to and from their workplaces would not be allowed during the two-week ECQ in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to 20.

READ: ‘Hatid-sundo’ for APORs not allowed during ECQ — PNP

Eleazar argued that this kind of practice would be prone to “abuse” and might be used as an excuse for non-APORs to go out despite the stay-at-home order under ECQ.

/ATM
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: APORs

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.