AS POLICE began strict implementation of quarantine measures, a man hoping to find a job in Metro Manila was arrested after he refused to undergo inspection and hit a policeman at a checkpoint in Malanday, Valenzuela City Monday, March 16.
The man, identified as Dionisio Bonote, is classified as an unauthorized entry, according to Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations.
Bonote will be charged with direct assault upon a person in authority and disobedience.
Policemen also intercepted at the same checkpoint Artemio Caparas, 47, who said he was bringing his six-year-old granddaughter home to her parents in Malabon.
“Nagbabakasyon kasi sa amin ito sa Pampanga ngayon iuuwi ko na sa kanila. Nung Sabado lang kasi ako umuwi ng Pampanga ngayon sinama ko na sya para umuwi na sya, ako naman babalik na sa trabaho,” he said. Caparas said he works in Novaliches.
(The girl has been staying with us in Pampanga while I work in Novaliches. I went home only last Saturday. I could only bring her home to her parents today on my way to work.)
For humanitarian reasons, Northern Police District Director Ronaldo Ylagan instructed a police mobile team to bring Caparas and his granddaughter home.
Eleazar inspected Monday the various checkpoints that the PNP established as part of the community quarantine imposed on Metro Manila in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
During an inspection at a checkpoint along McArthur Highway in Malanday, which borders Bulacan province, Guillermo reminded those manning the checkpoint to strictly implement the quarantine measures and deny entry to people who are not authorized to enter Metro Manila, or the National Capital Region (NCR).
Only those who work or have official business in the metro may enter and leave the region.
Also allowed to pass the checkpoints are passengers with international flights, health personnel, authorized officials, those in need of medical treatment and cargo, especially basic necessities.
Police will, however, require identification and other documents that will prove the purpose of the trip.
Eleazar also inspected checkpoints at the boundary of Malabon to Obando and Quezon City to San Mateo, Rizal.
“We reminded our personnel to strictly enforce the (denial) of those non-essential people entering Metro Manila or The denial or prevention of non-essential people going out of Metro Manila like for example kanina taga dito siya sa Bulacan papasok ng Valenzuela para lang magbayad ng kuryente meron pa papasok dito sa NCR para lang bisitahin ang asawa hindi kasama sa exemption yun,” he said.
The police have advised the elderly, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals and children to stay at home.
At the Quezon City-San Mateo, Rizal checkpoint, Elmar Mapacpac and his wife, who are both elderly, said they had to go out to buy dried fish in Tondo so they could sell these in the market in San Mateo.
Eleazar also reiterated, especially in public transport systems such as buses, jeepneys and motorcycles, that social distancing should be strictly observed.
“Pag mayroong hindi gumagawa (social distancing), pababain. Huwag papasukin,” he said.
“The individual owners of motor vehicles, whether private or public, should be aware of this responsibility. Alam niya dapat kung ilan lang ang bilang ng dapat na nakasakay at kung paano ididistribute ito. Even for private vehicles,” he added.
He also instructed police commanders in the vicinity of MRT and LRT to help manage the observance of social distancing while passengers queue for their turn to board the train.
On Monday morning, long lines formed outside the MRT stations as only a few passengers were allowed to get on the train in compliance with social distancing measures.
The commuters waiting in line for the train as well as those waiting for buses or jeepneys were packed closely together. (SunStar Philippines)