PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday ordered police officers manning quarantine control points in Metro Manila to stop the random inspection of vehicles going in and out of the National Capital Region (NCR) when traffic builds up in the checkpoint areas.
“That is our arrangement, we should properly check (vehicles). (But) if there is already traffic congestion, stop (the inspection) to ease traffic, so there will be no traffic congestion,” Eleazar said.
“Once the traffic flow improves, conduct random inspection again,” he added amid reports of heavy traffic in the areas where PNP checkpoints have been set up.
The PNP established checkpoints in all borders of Metro Manila local government units to control the mobility of people in and out of the region while it is under enhanced community quarantine from August 6 until 20.
The government imposed the strictest lockdown in the capital region following an increase in COVID-19 infections, including Delta variant cases.
“We should conduct random check. If you conduct the checking, do it properly and if there is a violation, issue a ticket to the (offending) driver,” the PNP chief also ordered his men.
Eleazar said people seeking medical treatment, those scheduled for vaccination, and those with family-related emergencies are allowed to cross the border points.
He said these people are considered “other APORs (Authorized Persons Outside Residence),” which has been classified into two groups: the workforce APORs, or workers of permitted industries, and consumer APORs who are representatives of households to access essential goods like food and medicines.
Workforce APORs are allowed to cross borders if their travel is work-related, but consumer APORs are confined to their barangay or LGU. They are supposed to access essential goods only in the LGUs where they are from.
“People who have appointment with doctors are included in the ‘other APORs.’ Also included are those going to the wake of immediate family members, or those whose wife gave birth and other reasons that are related to the Filipino culture,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar said the PNP leadership has already issued guidelines to allow the members of the ‘other APORs” to cross the borders.
“Policemen will not prevent people who have scheduled medical check-up and the people fetching them from going to other areas. This also applies to those who are getting vaccinated in other areas, they can cross borders because we know some LGUs are vaccinating workers of companies that are located in their areas,” Eleazar also said.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra reminded law enforcement authorities that any apprehension for violation of minimum health standards must be anchored on existing ordinance or law and that local government units must also provide large, open air holding areas for violators to prevent the virus from spreading.
The PNP has reported that 20,511 individuals have been arrested, fined and warned for violations of public health and safety protocols on the first day of the ECQ in Metro Manila.
Of this number, 5,781 were for curfew violations.
“Apprehensions of violations of health and safety ordinances, quarantine-related rules issued by competent authorities, and related laws of national application are covered by the DILG-PNP-DOJ joint memorandum circular issued on May 31, 2021,” Guevarra said.
Under the circular, LGUs are mandated to identify and provide large and open-air holding areas which shall be used for booking and initial investigation purposes, police officers shall ensure that any arrest of persons cited for violation of minimum public health standards is anchored on an existing, valid, and applicable local ordinance or law; and that where the ordinance or law allows the payment of a fine or the rendition of community service to avoid criminal prosecution, the same shall be observed to avoid congestion detention and holding areas.
“Otherwise, if the violation requires that the person arrested be subjected to inquest proceedings such as for resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, the arresting officer shall immediately present the person arrested to the DOJ inquest prosecutor,” Guevarra said. — With Ashzel Hachero
