PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Saturday said that as previously practiced by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) enforcement last year, maximum tolerance will be employed by the metropolice police force in dealing with quarantine violators.

“Hindi na kailangang paabutin pa sa unnecessary confrontations at maging sa punto ng arestuhan ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad nito kaya nakikiusap din ako sa ating mga kababayan sa Metro Manila na maayos na sumunod sa mga alitunitunin ng ECQ at respetuhin natin ang mga taong nagpapatupad nito, hindi lang ang mga pulis kundi pati na rin ang mga force multipliers na kabilang ang mga barangay tanod,” said Eleazar.

Eleazar added that he has reminded “personnel who will be deployed to enforce the ECQ to be courteous at all times and respect the rights of our kababayan especially in dealing with violators.”

“Hindi kasama sa ating tungkulin ang pagpaparusa, pananakit at pagpapahiya sa mga violators,” he stressed.

Eleazar on Saturday assured the preparedness of the NCRPO to strictly enforce the ECQ in Metro Manila from August 6-20 as part of the government’s effort to reduce further transmission of the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.

According to the top cop, the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to approve the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) recommendation placing Metro Manila under the stricter ECQ from August 6 to August 20 is a necessary intervention to protect the public amid the rising cases of the more virulent Delta variant in the country.

“In this regard, I have already instructed the RD, NCRPO, Police MGen. Vicente Danao, Jr., to make sure that all the quarantine restrictions that have been implemented before, including the deployment of appropriate number of PNP personnel and the coordination with Local Government Units for force multipliers, will be in place during that period,” Eleazar said.

“From the streets, communities, public utility vehicles, mass transport system and even in business establishments, we will make sure that the minimum public health safety protocols and other quarantine rules will be strictly implemented in order to achieve the purpose of this decision: to contain the spread of the COVID-19, particularly the more transmissible Delta variant,” he added.

The NCRPO headed by Maj. Gen. Danao is completely prepared to enforce the much stricter ECQ in the metropolis thru its Quarantine Control Points and stepped up visibility patrols to accost Unauthorized Persons Outside Residence.

During the ECQ, only Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) or essential workers will be allowed to leave their homes to go to work.

“Hindi na bago ang mga quarantine restrictions sa amin kaya tiwala ako na maayos na maipapatupad ito ng ating mga kapulisan.

“The fight against the COVID-19, including all its variants, is not only the responsibility of the people in the government, it is an obligation of everybody and our first line of defense is to be mindful of our protection and that of our family at all times—and to avail of the free vaccinations the moment that it becomes available for you,” Eleazar said.

The NCRPO will be guarding against social gatherings amid the threat posed to public health by the deadly COVID-19 Delta variant. The independent research group OCTA warned the public against taking part in social gatherings amid the spike in cases of the more infectious variant of the coronavirus.

“I am directing police commanders to be more vigilant in preventing the occurrence of social gatherings, which may be considered super spreader events that could lead to a high transmission rate of COVID-19,” Eleazar said.

But even before the proposal, Eleazar has already ordered all police commanders to continue implementing the quarantine rules issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

He also tasked them to closely coordinate with local government units for possible adjustments in quarantine measures.

MPD chief vows peaceful, orderly implementation of ECQ

As this developed, Manila Police District (MPD) Director PBGen. Leo M.Francisco ensured an orderly and peaceful implementation of ECQ in the city.

In a meeting with with MPD staff as well as unit and station commanders, Francisco ordered that in line with Eleazar’s directive, maximum tolerance should be practiced against quarantine violators.

To be strictly monitored by the MPD Capulong St., North Harbor, Happy Land at Smokey Mountain in Vitas, Tondo, Moriones and Dagupan Streets; Divisoria, Tondo under Major Rolly Estabilio, OIC of Station 1 and PLt. Col. Magno Gallora Jr. of Station 2; Rizal Ave, Blumentritt in Sta. Cruz, Manila under PLt. Col. John Guiagui of Station 3; España, Dimasalang, Lacson Streets and Balik Balik in Samaploc under PLt. Col. Gene Licud of Station 4; Paco, Intramuros,Kalaw at sa Roxas Blvd along United Nations Ave,Ermita under PLt. Col.Evangeline Cayaban of Station.5; Pedro Gil Street, Sta Ana, Onxy, San Andres Bukid and Pasig Line under PLt. Col.Orlando Mirando of Station.6;

Herbosa and R. Papa on Rizal Avenue, Abad Santos under PLt. Col. Harry Lorenzo of Station.7., V.Mapa, Bacood Streets, RM Blvd Sta Mesa under PLt. Col. Jonathan Robert Rongavilla of Station 8; President Quirino, South Super Highway on Zobel,Singalong Streets, Malate, Manila under PLt. Col. Cristito Acohon of Station 9; Beata, Nagtahan Labores and Kahilum I-II Sts in Pandacan under PLt. Col.Dennis Villanueva Rodriguez of Station.10; Chinatown on Ongpin Escolta T.Mapua and Divisoria side in Binondo under PLt. Col . Rollyfer Capoquian of Station 11; Delpan and Parola Compound under PLT.Col. Cenon Vargas of Station 12 in Port Area; Baseco Compound under PLt. Col. Robert Domingo of Station 13; Palanca in Sta Cruz, Globo De Oro, San Miguel on Mindiola and Barbosa Quiapo under PLt. Col Ramon Nazario of Station 14.

“Handang-handa naman ang mga pulis sa anumang krimen na maaaring maganap sa Lungsod ng Maynila dahil may mga mag-iikot na mga motorcycle unit at SWAT sa tulong ng District Mobile Police Unit ni Maj. Sagun at District Mobile Force Battalion sa pamumuno naman ni PLTCol.Julius Anonuevo,” said Francisco.

“Mahigpit din na ipinagbabawal ang pag-iinom ng alak kahit sa ano mang okasyon, pagsusugal sa kalye tulad ng sabong, basketbal ,mga nagkukumpulan maging ang paglalaro ng mga bata sa labas ng kanilang bahay. Ito ay matapos na ipatupad ni Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso sa Lungsod ng Maynila, Francisco added. By ALFRED DALIZON, FRANCIS NAGUIT & JON-JON REYES