PNP to help women, especially elderly and pregnant, reach their destination

April 28, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said they are ready to provide assistance to women, particularly stranded elderly and pregnant women who must go to their destinations.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said this is in response to the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte to help women in distress.

“Upon instructions of President Rodrigo R Duterte, the PNP will extend every possible assistance to women in distress especially those who need to make essential travel to procure food, medicine and basic needs,” Banac said.

He said PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa alerted all police units to give a ride to stranded women who need to get to their destinations.

Banac said Gamboa told police units to give particular attention to elderly and pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women with small children.

“We recognize the vulnerability of women who need to go outside their homes to do essential chores especially among elderly and pregnant women,” he said.

“The PNP has been providing similar assistance to medical and healthcare personnel and other frontline workers while mass transportation is suspended under the ECQ,” he added.

In his address Monday night, Duterte told the PNP to help those who are forced to travel for “hosts of reason”.

“One is sick and wanted to go to the hospital. One is there is really no transportation… for all you know she might really be a worker, a frontliner, or whatever… the police must stop and give them a lift— bring her to the boundary of the next barangay where she lives and call a police there that will pick her up and for that police there to complete the journey,” he said.

“All elderly, especially if they have children, women who are walking at night, they must be provided with transportation and that is the transportation of government,” he added.  Ella Dionisio/DMS