Eleazar to cops: Just warn face shield rule violators
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Friday ordered his men to refrain from imposing any sanctions on persons who will be caught not wearing face shields in both open and enclosed places in the country until after an official government order on the matter is released.
The top cop barked the instruction to members of the 17 Police Regional Offices enforcing minimum public health safety protocols including the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields to help prevent the further spread of the COVID-19.
According to Eleazar, violators should just be cautioned and reminded that there are still no existing guidelines that allow the non-wearing of face shield.
“I-caution na lang muna natin ang mga walang face shield. Karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay nasanay nang magsuot ng face shield at para doon sa mga makikitang hindi nagsusuot nito, paalalahanan na lang muna natin,” the PNP chief said.
Eleazar explained that while President Duterte was quoted as saying that face shield should only be worn inside hospitals and other medical facilities, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the government’s policy-making body in COVID-19 response efforts, immediately made a recommendation to continue the mandatory wearing of face shields over face masks.
“The latest recommendation of the IATF to the President is to continue making mandatory the wearing of face shields in enclosed spaces, commercial areas, public transport, terminals and even places of worship,” he said.
“With this, we will continue to enforce the existing policy until the President decides on the matter and the IATF amends the guidelines,” he added.
The PNP chief however said the strict rules on mandatory wearing of face masks in public places and enclosed areas including shopping malls will remain.
At the same time, he reiterated his reminder to policemen on the ground not to hurt persons who will be apprehended for not wearing face shields. He also instructed them to distribute face masks to violators who have none.
“May direktiba din po tayo sa ating kapulisan na bigyan ng face masks ang mga mahuhuling walang suot nito. Paulit-ulit din po tayong nagpapaalala sa mga PNP personnel na hindi dapat saktan ang mga lumalabag sa panuntunang ito,” Eleazar said.
According to the PNP chief, they will wait for the issuance of new guidelines based on the President’s decision.
“Kung may pagbabago man, hihintayin po ng PNP na maibaba ang amended guidelines para iyon ang aming ipatupad. Sa ngayon, status quo muna at susundin muna namin kung ano ang isinasaad ng guidelines para maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng kalituhan ang publiko sa bagay na ito,” he said.
