A JOINT memorandum circular issued by three national government agencies mandates local government units (LGUs) to align their health and safety ordinances with the protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The joint directive was issued by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar and Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
Año said the directive aims to synchronize the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response of the LGUs, police and the courts.
It directs LGUs to align their ordinances on public health standards and quarantine protocols, including curfew, with those of the IATF.
Ordinances that enforce Republic Act No. 11332, or Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, are also covered.
Año said the LGUs have been enforcing quarantine protocols, public health standards and related local ordinances since last year, but guidelines are needed to prevent super spreader events that may arise due to confusion over the local policies.
The PNP will remain as the enforcement arm of the LGU with the assistance of the barangay officials. They may effect arrest or impose fines against quarantine violators.
Año said LGUs and PNP should identify holding areas for arrested quarantine violators. They should ensure that quarantine protocols are still being observed in these areas.
“They are not placed together with common criminals,” he said.
For his part, Guevarra said he has ordered inquest prosecutors to fast-track the resolution of cases related to quarantine violations.
“So yun ang mga guidelines na binibigay sa aming inquest prosecutors. Madaliin lang itong mga ganitong klaseng kaso kasi there is a danger na magkaroon ng congestion kaya bigyan ng top priority,” he said.
Año said noted in the JMC the accountability of erring officials who will violate or will fail to enforce health and safety protocols.
He said arrested violators with Covid-19 symptoms will be tested and placed in government isolation.
The PNP apprehended 125,587 individuals from May 17 to 30 for violating minimum public health standards amid the pandemic.
Of the total, 95,357 were apprehended for not wearing face shields, 3,657 of whom were charged while the rest were either given a warning, fined or ordered to render community service.
A total of 1,697 individuals were accosted for mass gathering while another 28,533 were apprehended for violating physical distancing rules. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)