Lorenzana says military will help police implement community quarantine

March 13, 2020

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in implementing the community quarantine starting March 15 as part of government's effort against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

"The military will not be involved in the determination of the guidelines to enforce the restricted movement. It is the PNP. The military will just be in the support role as they do not have police powers. I am sure the DILG and PNP are now coming up with the guidelines," said Lorenzana.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue its operations, including its support to the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. The AFP shall assist the Philippine National Police in implementing the community quarantine in certain areas, and will help ensure the availability of units and personnel, critical logistics and supplies, as well as emergency medical teams, among others," he added.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said the military is always "ready to assist the PNP in implementing the community quarantine in certain areas in line with the government's efforts to contain and prevent the further spread of COVID-19".

"Our different units were earlier directed to prepare their contingency measures to make this possible without compromising our peace and security operations," he said.

"This includes the availability of units and personnel, emergency medical teams, availabilty of critical logistics and supplies, and preparation of personal protective equipment for soldiers and other personnel who will be tapped to assist the PNP," Santos said.

"The entire AFP is committed in sustaining its readiness to better assist DOH and government agencies through the (Inter-Agency Task Force) IATF in preventing the spread of NCOV," he added.

1Lt. Arrianne Bichara, spokesperson of the AFP Joint Task Force National Capital Region (JTFNCR), said as of Friday details on implementing the community quarantine are being ironed out by authorities.

"As of this moment. plans are already here  and the details are being ironed out for the implementation of the community quarantine. Personnel protective equipment (PPE) are already  provided and we are requesting for the additional PPEs for our troops to be deployed", she said.

Lorenzana said pursuant to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte based on the March 12, 2020 resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infections Diseases (IAFT-EID), "the Department of National Defense (DND) will maintain a skeletal civilian workforce  for its frontline services and other critical office functions."

"Our other civilian bureaus, specifically the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Office of Civil Defense, National Defense College of the Philippines and Government Arsenal are encouraged to adopt their own workforce measures to ensure the continuity of frontline and essential services, such as the processing of veterans claims and production of materiel," he said.

"They are also directed to implement the guidelines issued by the IATF-EID, including social distancing measures, enforcing proper workplace hygiene, and early medical treatment when symptoms manifest in the workforce," he added. Robina Asido/DMS