ECQ, not martial law, says PNP

March 22, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has clarified that the enhanced community quarantine or lockdown being implemented in the whole of Luzon due to the spread of coronavirus disease is not an indication of martial law.

“What we have now is state of calamity for the whole country and this enhanced community quarantine is for Luzon and there is no indication that it is a martial law,” Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a public briefing on Sunday.

He said that those in the frontline, maintaining the implementation of the lockdown, are policemen.

Banac also reminded the public not to attend wake as it is prohibited under the ECQ.

“Based on the latest update that was given to us by the inter-agency task force, only the officiating priests, pastor, or minister will be allowed to attend the funeral. Attending wake is strictly prohibited under our enhanced community quarantine,” he said.

However, Banac said the transportation of cadaver was exempted on the travel restriction during the lockdown.

“For as long there is a clearance to transport the cadaver by its family, it is considered by the PNP as emergency. It can immediately pass through our quarantine control stations,” he said.

“They just need to secure a permit or clearance for travel that will come from the health authorities. You just have to present this to our quarantine control stations,” he added.

Aside from the travel clearance from the hospital or the local health authorities, the police official said the families of the dead persons should also secure permit from the local government unit, especially those who wish to transport the cadaver to their provinces. Robina Asido/DMS