Follow rules if you don’t want ”martial law-like” implementation of ECQ: PNP

April 20, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday urged the people to follow the guidelines set by the interagency task force to prevent President Rodrigo Duterte from resorting to a “martial law-like” implementation in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

In a radio interview, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Duterte wants to emphasize on making arrests as violators reach 133, 499.

“So if this will really push through, we can charge them of so many violations existing (under) Bayanihan Act then we also have the Revised Penal Code.  The public should behave so that this will not happen because if it will happen, it will really be full implementation of the law and there will be no warning, we will arrest them,” Gamboa said.

After Duterte made the statement last week, Gamboa said they are now preparing if the president will implement such measures.

“So as directed by him, he said we are required to prepare and as a matter of fact we are already preparing  with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)… We have already pinpointed areas where we need to deploy forces so that people will follow (the IATF guidelines),” he said.

“I also required the director of NCR (National Capital Region Police Office) to prepare per district where they will put those who will be arrested and then he will also reserve (a place) in Bicutan. So all of these things are being prepared because we expect massive arrest if people will continue not to follow(rules),” he added.

Gamboa said violators may be punished with a six-month detention.

“So all of these things, as I said, the PNP can multi-charge a person which in fact we are doing if they are not really following the policies of the IATF,” he said.

Based on the Department of Health (DOH)’s data, the country has  6, 259 confirmed cases with 572 recoveries and 409 deaths.

The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed by Duterte on March 17 will last until April 30 unless the president extends it once more. Ella Dionisio/DMS