Mobile checkpoints to be set up after more private cars seen in roads

April 15, 2020

The commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield on Wednesday said he directed the Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to put up mobile checkpoints along EDSA and other major thoroughfares to run after violators on board private vehicles.

Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said  some individuals violated home quarantine rule and social distancing by leaving their homes.

Eleazar said  mobile checkpoints inside Metro Manila are being manned  by HPG personnel who check if private vehicle owners are complying with the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), which the government laid down on March 17 up to April 30 to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Eleazar said JTF COVID Shield has decided to set up mobile checkpoints along major roads within Metro Manila after noticing an increase of private vehicles travelling in Metro Manila in the past few days. Netzens posted pictures in their social media accounts.

“Maybe some people are getting bored that’s why they are doing road trips to take advantage of the traffic-free situation, and even bringing their friends and family to go around Metro Manila using their vehicles,” Eleazar said.

“We would like to emphasize that this is a clear violation of the home quarantine and social distancing rules. Again, we remind the public that we will arrest you because it’s against the ECQ guidelines,” he added.

He said HPG is coordinating with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to set up mobile checkpoints.

The HPG personnel manning the mobile checkpoints will check if the driver of the private vehicle is allowed to go outside his house under the ECQ guidelines.

“Currently, there are no QCPs (Quarantine Control Points) along EDSA so I tasked HPG to conduct mobile checkpoints not only along EDSA but also in other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to check on private vehicles if there are UPOR (Unauthorized Persons Outside Residence) occupants,” Eleazar said.

He explained that mobile checkpoints were established on EDSA and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila as it is easy to set up depending on volume of vehicles in some areas at a given time.

Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz, the HPG director, vowed that they will be strict in enforcing the home quarantine and social distancing rules on private vehicles.

“If there is at least one UPOR as passenger or the only occupant is the driver but he is also UPOR, we will arrest them,” Cruz warned. Ella Dionisio/DMS