PNP to strictly enforce curfew, border control

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday ordered police officers to strictly enforce longer curfew hours in the National Capital Region once the NCR shifts to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting this Friday.

Metro Manila will have an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew once the ECQ is in effect until Aug. 20.

Eleazar ordered police officers to coordinate with barangay officials in enforcing the curfew.

He said the longer curfew hours will complement the strict border control that will be fully implemented during the two-week ECQ.

“The strict border control and the longer curfew hours are but some of the necessary interventions to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19,” he said in a statement.

With the curfew in place, Eleazar said drinking binges and other social gatherings, considered as super spreader events, will be avoided.

Police officers will also help enforce the liquor ban that will be implemented by some local government units in Metro Manila.

Eleazar urged the public to strictly follow minimum public health and safety standards and quarantine protocols to prevent COVID-19 from further spreading.

He pointed out that these measures have been proven effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., who heads the National Capital Region Police Office, said checkpoints have been in place since last weekend.

“We have control points before (people) can enter NCR, and number one here is we are monitoring if (those entering) are APORs or authorized persons outside residences,” he said.

Danao said those authorized to leave their homes should be able to show identification cards from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and their company ID.

These authorized individuals would also be allowed outside during curfew hours, with “extra consideration for doctors, nurses and others who are still on duty past the curfew,” Danao said. – Ralph Edwin Villanueva