PNP: Checkpoints, Curfew Remain in NCR Plus Under MECQ
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Sunday ordered the cops to continue to man checkpoints in the NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) and three other areas under the less restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from April 12 to 30.
According to PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, Sinas convened a meeting Sunday morning prior to the announcement of the downgrading of these areas to MECQ from enhanced community quarantine, effective Monday.
National Headquarter Philippine National Police/IMAGE from PNP’s official Facebook page
According to him, a curfew will remain in place and compliance with the minimum public health standards (MPHS) will continue to be enforced.
“Checkpoints in boundaries will remain. Still, no arrests shall be made by the PNP on violations of MPHS. Only warning and fines. Mass gathering is still not allowed,” Usana said, adding that malls are allowed to open but only for the selling of essential items.
Besides NCR (National Capital Region) Plus, also under MECQ are the City of Santiago in Isabela, Quirino province in Region 2, and Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya (Region 2 or Cagayan Valley); Quezon and Batangas (Region 4-A or Calabarzon); Tacloban City (Region 8 or Eastern Visayas); Iligan City (Region 10 or Northern Mindanao); Davao City (Region 11 or Davao Region); and Lanao del Sur (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) will be under general community quarantine (GCQ).
The rest of the Philippines will be under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine.
Meanwhile, Usana said Sinas has instructed police personnel manning checkpoints to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests from time to time to prevent contagion among the lawmen.
Source: Philippine News Agency
