POLICE Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of Task Force COVID Shield, on Sunday said police commanders in the provinces have been instructed to check all private vehicles for compliance with home quarantine rules as authorities moved to expand operations nationwide amid continued violations of the guidelines.
Eleazar, deputy PNP chief for operations, said PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa has authorized regional directors to come up with measures to ensure that home quarantine and social distancing instructions are strictly observed in their jurisdictions.
“The expansion (to nationwide coverage) of the operations against these private vehicles which may have “unauthorized persons outside residence” (UPOR) inside is part of our chief PNP’s order to further intensify measures against these hardheaded people,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar said private vehicles driven by or are carrying UPOR and out on non-essential travels, can be issued TOPs (temporary operator’s permits), OVRs (ordinance violation receipts), and other citation tickets.
“All the violators should be penalized,” he said.
Last week, Eleazar tasked the HPG to conduct mobile checkpoints on EDSA and other major roads in Metro Manila and likewise deployed motorcycle-riding policemen to run after private vehicles amid the sudden influx of cars plying Metro Manila.
HPG director Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz said 100 motorists have been apprehended for violating the ECQ guidelines on home quarantine, noting that violators were traveling from one city to another for errands or activities considered as non-essential.
“We will continuously do this to send a message that we are serious in the implementation of home quarantine and social distancing. We are warning private car owners and drivers of non-cargo vehicles not to engage in non-essential travels because they will certainly be apprehended,” Cruz said.
Eleazar said that he had already tasked Cruz to conduct the operations on a daily basis especially in Metro Manila where most of the violations occur.
Aside from running after private vehicles and other non-cargo vehicles on non-essential travels, Eleazar said the HPG was also tasked to conduct surprise operations on areas where home quarantine and social distancing rules are violated by bystanders and local residents.
“We will be using our Mobile Command Center in monitoring and intelligence-gathering of areas where ECQ rules, especially on home quarantine and social distancing are not observed,” Eleazar said. MCC is a self-contained and integrated command and control vehicle equipped with advanced technologies on audio and video communication that includes drones.
Eleazar warned that all those who would be apprehended will be charged either through electronic inquest, or e-inquest, of the Department of Justice or through regular filing.
