THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue to strictly control the people going in and out of the National Capital Region (NCR) plus bubble as the area shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31, 2021.
PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Friday, May 14, said the Joint Task Force Covid Shield will ensure that the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will be followed.
“Ang babantayan pa rin naman natin d’yan ay siguraduhin na ‘yung mga kababayan natin na hindi allowed lumabas should stay at home at kung allowed naman sila, see to it that they observe the minimum health protocol,” Eleazar said in an interview in Camp Crame.
The NCR plus bubble consists of the NCR, or Metro Manila, and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.
“‘Di ba meron tayong NCR plus bubble ngayon malinaw sa sinabi ng IATF na ang movement ng non-Apor (authorized person outside residence) hindi allowed mag-cross sa bubble area. Apor lang ang pwede if their travel is work-related,” Eleazar said.
He ordered the arrest of those who would be caught smuggling people into and out of the pandemic bubble.
He also urged cops to be vigilant against mass gatherings since May is known to be the fiesta season.
“Alam naman natin na kapag piyesta, nariyan ang mga handaan, mga aktibidad sa simbahan at iba pang mass gatherings. Nakagawian na natin ito at bahagi ng tradisyon pero bawal pa rin po ito hangga’t narito ang banta ng Covid-19,” Eleazar said.
“I am directing the police commanders to strictly monitor happenings in your AORs (areas of responsibility). Napakahalaga po ang inyong papel para mapigilan natin ang mass gatherings o mga potential super spreader events ngayong panahon ng piyesta,” he added.
Eleazar emphasized that police will no longer issue warnings to violators considering that minimum public safety health protocols, including the prohibition on mass gatherings, have been implemented since last year. (SunStar Philippines)