PNP preparing strategy on implementing GCQ in some areas

April 27, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said they are preparing a strategy on implementing the general community quarantine (GCQ) as some areas in Luzon will still be under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on May 1.

In a TV interview, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said a top level study team was formed as it will have an effect on their human resource department.

“Because based on the resolution released by the Interagency Task Force (IATF), there are still a lot of restrictions… there will be a discretion in the part of the industries including planes and ships so that’s why we are preparing,” Gamboa said.

“The utilization of our human resource, if the cops that will be rotated did not undergo testing, they will have to undergo 14-day quarantine… this will be a big effect on the PNP’s human resource management and a lot will be affected because we have a lot of ‘what if’ situation and this is what we are preparing not only this year but up to next year,” he said.

Gamboa said based on the instruction of Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, GCQ will be the country’s “new normal”.

Asked about the shooting incident in Quezon City, Gamboa said they reminded their personnel deployed on the ground to keep in mind standard operating procedures (SOP).

“We remind (our) people that when that discretion (judgement call) comes, we must remind ourselves about the SOP… on how they should react when they are face on that kind of situation,” Gamboa said.

“Their actions must be in accordance to the SOP,” he added.

Last April 24, Malacanang said President Rodrigo Duterte maintained the ECQ in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

"Provinces considered high-risk in Region III include Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga.  High-risk provinces in Region IV-A are Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon.  Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro comprise high-risk provinces in Region IV-B while Albay and Catanduanes are the high-risk provinces in Region V.  Benguet in CAR Cordillera Administrative Region), Pangasinan in Region I, Tarlac and Zambales in Region III may change by April 30," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

In the Visayas, Roque said the IAFT considered Antique, Iloilo, Cebu and Cebu City high-risk, all subject to recheck, Aklan and Capiz, which are both subject to ECQ.

In Mindanao, Davao del Norte and Davao City are considered high-risk, while Davao de Oro is subject to ECQ and subject to recheck, he said.

Roque said high-risk areas will be under ECQ until May 15, subject for further evaluation.

The low-risk areas will fall under general community quarantine until May 15, and "if there is no deterioration, GCQ will be relaxed leading to normalization," Roque added.

Other areas and provinces not covered by the ECQ are under GCQ, the official said. Ella Dionisio/DMS