Police visibility increased in shift to GCQ

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the easing of quarantine restrictions in most parts of the country today, there will be no letup in the enforcement of security and public health measures, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The PNP will continue to intensify police visibility operations, including the conduct of random checkpoints to encourage the public to continue their cooperation and remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement.

After more than two months of lockdown under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), a majority of provinces and regions in the country begin today more relaxed quarantine restrictions under a general community quarantine (GCQ).

However, Metro Manila, Cebu City and Laguna – considered “high risk” for COVID-19 infection – will remain under a “modified” ECQ until May 31.

Banac said that they are in constant coordination with local government units and law enforcement agencies amid the shift in community quarantine levels.

As most regions are now under GCQ, greater movement of people and vehicles should be expected, Banac said.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Taskforce COVID shield, said they would also be deploying policemen at malls in GCQ areas.

Policemen will assist mall security personnel in ensuring that basic health protocols against COVID-19 are followed.

“With some of the shops inside the malls now allowed to open, we expect an influx of people in these areas so we want to make the police presence felt there in order to ensure that they will strictly follow the rules for their safety from the coronavirus,” Eleazar said in a statement.

More policemen will also be deployed in business districts, as well as in convergence points like public transport terminals and waiting areas.

Police will implement random checks on people in the streets to determine if they are authorized to leave their homes, especially in ECQ areas.

Emotional debate

Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has stood firm against allowing personal care services like barber shops and beauty parlors to reopen after debating on the matter for eight to 10 hours.

“So, we love barbers. The only thing I can tell the barbers and the salon operators are, we love you, we’ve devoted so much time to you and it has even provoked emotional responses,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday

“I have never seen any issue as controversial as barbers in the IATF. I am telling you. There was someone who was teary eyed, of course we were all meeting online, someone almost cried about the issue of barbers because there’s no way we can actually maintain safe social distancing in barbershops and in salons,” Roque said over ANC.

“So, it has been a topic that has consumed so much time, if I were to estimate the amount of time given to those issues it’s probably around 8 to 10 hours on barbershops,” he added.

Anti COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez was strongly against reopening personal service shops.

“But I think the decision for now is we went by the recommendation of the chief implementer, Sec. Galvez and for now barbershops and salons are still not allowed in MECQ,” he said. The ban is under IATF resolution No. 35.

Roque explained that the decision stands until the threat of COVID-19 is neutralized. But he floated the possibility of the ban being reconsidered under GCQ areas.

“I think for now they don’t want it, because they want to be on the safe side, but I’m not saying that under GCQ it will not be allowed. It’s just that for now, for under modified GCQ because we still have to come up with guidelines with the modified GCQ,” he said.

“So, I’m not saying it’s an impossibility forever, but for now the IATF decided not to allow barbershops, although mind you in the past the IATF allowed it and now it’s reconsidered because of the very emotional positions conducted by members of the IATF,” Roque said.Christina Mendez