PNP warns PUV drivers violating health protocols

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday warned public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers of penalties if they are caught breaking COVID-19 protocols amid reports of blatant violations of guidelines set by the government for passenger jeepneys and buses.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the Highway Patrol Group and police manning border checkpoints were ordered to issue citation tickets to PUV operators and drivers found overloading passengers.

“We will be strict in implementing this as part of our effort to contain the spread of the virus. We are warning transport operators and drivers to follow the rules if they don’t want to get apprehended,” Eleazar said in a statement.

PNP Directorate for Operations head Maj. Gen. Alfredo Corpus said his office has been receiving reports of unabated incidents of passenger overloading and other violations of health protocols in jeepneys and buses, particularly in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

Eleazar said violation tickets would be issued if police accost passengers not following safety guidelines and if PUVs are overloading.

He said the PNP would not allow consumers to cross borders just to avail themselves of goods and services that are available within their areas.

Eleazar said the concept of “tiny bubbles” in Metro Manila would still be applied, meaning local government units would have quarantine control points manned by police.