Police will arrest “unruly” violators of the community quarantine that President Rodrigo Duterte declared over Metro Manila to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, the region’s top cop said Friday.
The Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office will man all checkpoints in entry and exit points of the metropolis during the implementation of a community quarantine beginning Sunday, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said.
This developed as the government on Friday said it will issue guidelines for the suspension of travel to and from the National Capital Region (NCR) to avoid confusion once the community quarantine in Metro Manila takes effect.
“We will arrest those who will not follow the guidelines,” Sinas said, adding that if somebody violates the quarantine and enters the region, the person would be charged with violation of quarantine law and the Revised Penal Code.
“So that they know that if you violate it, you will be apprehended. Ano ang gagawin naming dialogue? [What dialogue?] Those who will violate will be arrested. We will file charges once they violate,” he warned.
Sinas assured mediamen that all policemen to be deployed would have protective gear and their police cars would be sanitized and disinfected.
He added that roads to be closed were already identified and would be recommended to Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, for approval.
“We have already identified these roads. Recommending it to Camp Crame. If they will approve, then we will implement this. Those roads going to Region 3 or Region 4, all of them were identified,” he stressed.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said there will be exemptions to the rule, particularly on cargo, goods, produce, patients seeking medical attention in Metro Manila, and workers in NCR living outside the quarantined area.
The Palace official also assured Metro Manila residents they need not worry about the supply of produce, food, and other supplies in groceries as the transport of goods will continue, subject to guidelines.
“We will give out the details on exemptions for the patients, cargo, workers, and even government officials who are going to different places,” he said.
Nograles said workers living outside Metro Manila will need to show some kind of ID to get through checkpoints.
Nograles said private motorists will also be covered by the travel ban, noting that police will be posted along the borders of Metro Manila.
“You cannot enter or leave Metro Manila unless you show proof to law enforcers that you’re [covered by the] exemptions,” Nograles added..
The Palace official also said that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will remain open for international flights, but travelers flying to Metro Manila once the community quarantine starts on March 15 will have to stay within the metropolis until the domestic travel restriction is lifted.
“Regarding international flights, flights from Metro Manila going to and coming from abroad will be allowed, subject to travel restrictions that are currently in place,” Nograles said.
The Cabinet official also urged travelers whose destination is in the provinces to fly into the country through Clark and other airports outside Metro Manila.
“Anyone flying in from abroad via NAIA will remain in Metro Manila until the domestic travel ban is lifted,” Nograles said.
“If the ultimate destination is in the provinces, we suggest you fly in via Clark, Cebu and other airports not under quarantine so you can proceed to your ultimate destination in the provinces,” he added.
During the emergency, President Rodrigo Duterte will stay in Manila to preside over Cabinet meetings daily for the duration of the community quarantine, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
Earlier, Duterte and his constant companion, Senator Christopher Go, underwent testing for COVID-19, but the Palace has not released the results.
“We are not doing this because we have symptoms of COVID-19. We are doing this to ensure that we are fit and healthy to engage the public and perform our duties in the coming days and weeks,” Go said.
Panelo said that Metro Manila is under a community quarantine that will suspend land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila from March 15 to April 14, 2020.
“The President chose to remain in the capital despite a plea from his partner, Honeylet Avanceña, to fly to his hometown Davao City, where he usually spends his weekends,” Panelo said.
“He’s the President. And he says no because the face of the country is Manila and the President had to be here so I’ll be here,’” Panelo said in a television interview.
“The quarantine will be implemented by the local government units assisted by the law enforcement agencies. And also the response will be swift because all the heads of departments are there to be apprised of any disturbing development and give an immediate and appropriate response,” Panelo added.
Duterte placed Metro Manila under community quarantine after the Department of Health (DOH) upgraded its alert on COVID-19 from Code Red 1 Sublevel 1 to Sublevel 2, due to evidence of community transmission and prevalence of cases beyond what the government can address.
The World Health Organization (WHO) now considers COVID-19 a pandemic, which describes sustained outbreaks in multiple regions of the world.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it will bar foreign visitors coming from countries with localized COVID-19 outbreaks starting next week as part of the government’s program to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval also urged Filipinos to postpone non-essential travel, but said Filipino citizens, their foreign spouse and children and holders of permanent resident and diplomat visas will be allowed to enter the country in any international airport and seaport in the country.
She said it is best to defer travel for leisure.
“This issue is already bigger than individuals, communities, or our country. It’s a worldwide concern. Hence we all do our part, and make sacrifices to prevent the further spread of this virus,” Sandoval said.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night announced an entry ban on persons coming from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens, their foreign spouse and children, and holders of permanent resident and diplomat visas.
She said persons from Metro Manila can leave for abroad before the imposition of any travel ban and that they will be undergone an assessment from the Bureau of Quarantine upon their return.
“An advisory will be released once we clarify the scope of the ban,” she said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it is ready to assist the Philippine National Police to implement community quarantine measures in Metro Manila.
AFP chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said the AFP has enough personnel, including emergency medical teams, who can be deployed in different areas implementing the community quarantine.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is still awaiting specific guidelines from the IAFT on how to enforce the community quarantine.
The PNP will be setting up checkpoints in different areas in Metro Manila to prevent travel to and from the National Capital Region.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) suspended work Friday to give way for the disinfection of the entire building.
The Department of the National Defense, for its part, said they will maintain a skeletal civilian workforce for its frontline services and other critical office functions.
“Our other civilian bureaus, specifically the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Office of Civil Defense, National Defense College of the Philippines and Government Arsenal are encouraged to adopt their own workforce measures to ensure the continuity of frontline and essential services, such as the processing of veterans claims and production of materiel,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.
Lorenzana also directed the implementation of the guidelines issued by the IATF including social distancing measures, enforcement of proper workplace hygiene, and early medical treatment when symptoms appear.
Despite the implementation of community quarantine and travel ban in Metro Manila, Nograles said the government’s frontline services will continue.
Nograles said skeletal staffing patterns and telecommuting may be considered to ensure that public services remain uninterrupted.
In a memorandum circular released Wednesday, the Civil Service Commission encouraged all government offices to adopt “either or both” the four-day workweek and shifting work schedules.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the operations of private companies in Metro Manila would not be stopped.
Lopez said banks, offices, and factories would continue to operate during the community quarantine in Metro Manila.
Nograles said the private sector, too, can also adopt flexible work schemes.
“For the private sector, we urge employers to adopt the (flexible) work arrangements that were outlined in a labor advisory that was issued by the Department of Labor and Employment,” he said.
Nograles also urged media not to use the term “lockdown,” as this could alarm the public and fuel panic. Senate President Vicente Sotto III echoed this sentiment.
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Senator Panfilo Lacson supported the community quarantine despite the inconvenience it brings.
“[The] government must lose no time in coming up with practical but effective ways of implementing it to serve its real purpose for our country to survive this unprecedented crisis that we are facing,” Lacson said.
He said the inter-agency task force headed by the Department of Health should issue clear, simple and concise guidelines on how to deal with COVID-19 to prevent confusion among the public.
Senator Grace Poe also called for clear-cut guidelines on the community quarantine to avoid public confusion and ensure effective enforcement.
