Palace: IATF’s face mask rule to prevail over LGU orders

FILE PHOTO: Face masks. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on wearing face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic will prevail over any orders of the local government unit.

Malacañang asserted this Tuesday after the provincial government of Cebu lifted the mandatory wearing of face masks in open and outdoor spaces.

“We reiterate and support the legal opinion of the Justice Secretary that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution on the mandatory wearing of face masks shall prevail over the executive orders by local government units, including the one issued by the provincial government of Cebu,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier pointed out that the IATF’s directives were supported by President Rodrigo Duterte’s own orders.

READ: It’s mask on in Cebu as IATF rule to prevail, says DOJ chief

“As between an executive order issued by the president, as manifested in resolutions issued by the IATF composed of alter egos of the president, on one hand, and executive orders issued by local government units, on the other hand, the former shall prevail,” Guevarra has said.

Andanar then reiterated the President’s order to continue wearing face masks.

READ: Mask rule stays until end of my term – Duterte

He added that the Philippine National Police has been tasked by the Department of the Interior and Local Government “to implement the existing IATF resolution on wearing of face masks accordingly.”

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