PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Friday, June 18, 2021, said he will coordinate closely with the local government unit (LGU) in the enforcement of international arrival protocols in Cebu.
He said the police are not involved in the conduct of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the novel coronavirus, but will ensure the enforcement of minimum public health standards.
As to which protocols will be enforced, Eleazar said the local police will wait for the result of the discussions between the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the regional IATF.
“Ang bottom line lagi nandun ‘yung ating maximum tolerance pati lagi for the benefit of public ang ating concern. Babalansehin natin yan,” he said.
The IATF, the national government’s policy-making body for Covid-19 response, has ordered the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, including the police and military, to “ensure strict adherence” to existing arrival protocols for international travelers in all ports regardless of any specific protocols from the LGUs to the contrary.
This is part of efforts to prevent the entry of more Covid-19 variants into the country.
Cebu Province has been implementing arrival protocols that deviate from the IATF protocols despite a Malacañang statement saying President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the enforcement of IATF protocols in Cebu. (SunStar Philippines)