MANILA — The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) has established mobile checkpoints to detain unauthorized persons outside of residence (UPOR) and to flag social distancing violations in private vehicles.
“I directed HPG (Highway Patrol Group) to conduct mobile checkpoints and Oplan Habol along Edsa (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) and other major thoroughfares in the NCR (National Capital Region) to check private vehicles for UPOR occupants. “HPG is coordinating with the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) on this,” Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of JTF CV Shield, told reporters on Wednesday.
He claims that these mobile checkpoints will be effective in enforcing the enhanced community quarantine on Edsa, where no quarantine control points exist (QCPs).
The measure was implemented in response to an increase in the number of private vehicles traveling in Metro Manila.
“Maybe some of our fellow Filipinos are getting bored so they think of going on a road trip to take advantage of smooth traffic flow and they even gathered their friends and families’ members in their vehicles. “We want to stress that this is a clear violation of the home quarantine and social distancing rules,” he said in Filipino.
Only authorized persons outside residence (APOR) will be permitted to pass the QCPs.
The task force established 115 dedicated control points (DCPs) in strategic locations across the country that will be inspected by the HPG.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles stated in a virtual press briefing that the HPG has been directed to implement the following measures beginning Wednesday to address the reported increase in the number of vehicles traveling along Edsa and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila:
-Inspection of private vehicles to determine whether or not the driver and passengers are on the APOR list.
-If the driver or any of the passengers is not authorized, HPG will issue LTOV [LTO violation receipt] or MMDA OVR [Ordinance Violation Receipt] tickets to the drivers of private vehicles transporting unauthorized persons outside their residence as identified by JTF CV Shield.
“Let us all understand that the ECQ will only be effective in containing Covid-19 if we restrict our movements. All of this is being done for us and our families in order to keep the virus from spreading. We ask that everyone please cooperate and stay at home as much as possible. “Let’s all stay in our houses for now, our lives come first,” said Nograles, who is also the spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Nearly 115K ECQ violators
Meanwhile, according to JTF CV Shield data, there are 114,972 quarantine violators across the country.
With 69,669 violators, Luzon had the highest number, followed by Mindanao with 24,748 and Visayas with 20,555.
According to the report, 82,396 of the 114,972 violators have received a warning, 5,185 have been fined, 6,023 have been charged, and 21,368 have been arrested and are now facing charges.
Police also apprehended 696 people for allegedly hoarding and profiteering, as well as 8,207 public transportation vehicles for violating the mass transportation ban.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ enforcement arm is the JTF CV Shield (IATF-EID). The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection are all part of it.
The IATF-EID has been updating the APOR on a regular basis based on ongoing discussions with stakeholders. Any agreements reached on the movement of people and cargoes are forwarded to the JTF CV Shield for implementation.
Source: PNA