Sinas says tricycle drivers found operating in Pasig City streets will be arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Tricycle drivers, who will be found still operating in the streets of Pasig City, will be arrested under the government’s order to stop all modes of public mass transportation during the enforcement of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, the head of Metro Manila police said on Friday.

In a press briefing at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters, Major Gen. Debold Sinas, NCRPO director said he had ordered Pasig police chief Col. Moises Villaceran Jr. to arrest tricycle drivers who will insist on being on the streets of Pasig.

“Galing ako sa Pasig, nandun kami  konti na lang yung tao at wala nang tricycle drivers kung meron man we instructed the chief of police ng Pasig to already caution there at kung ‘di pa sila titigil i-arrest na,” Sinas said.

(I just came from Pasig, and we saw that there were only a few people there and there were no tricycle drivers. If there are still tricycles operating, I have instructed the police chief of Pasig to first warn them and if they will not stop, they will be arrested.)

Sinas added that Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto had agreed to comply with the transport service restrictions for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine.

“So far, Mayor Vico already informed us that he will abide with the guidelines in enhanced community quarantine,” he said.

Sotto previously appealed to the national government to allow the fielding of tricycles in the city, citing that their risk assessment has shown that tricycles can bring health workers to their respective hospitals and health facilities.

But the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) insisted that all forms of public mass transportation has been banned to restrict the movement of the public and observe social distancing for the duration of the quarantine period.

/MUF