Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge Lieuetant General Guillermo Eleazar have ordered the deployment of additional policemen to augment the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in the implementation of uniform curfew hours in Metro Manila from March 15 to March 31, 2021.
The police augmentation forces will come from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) and other units that have been directed before to conduct Red Teaming operations. Other personnel will be tapped as the need for more police visibility arises.
A total of 9,634 policemen from the Quezon City Police District, Manila Police District, Eastern Police District, Northern Police District and Southern Police District will be deployed to assist the Local Government Units of Metro Manila in enforcing the curfew.
The deployment includes the setting up of more than 373 checkpoints in various strategic areas which will be reinforced by beat and mobile car patrollers at the barangay level.
“The mission is plain and simple: All police forces will strictly implement the Uniform Curfew Hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will ensure that people in Metro Manila observe the minimum health safety standard protocol,” said Eleazar.
The strong police visibility in Metro Manila starting Monday, March 15, is anchored on the tried and tested formula which we implemented in Metro Manila in April last year and in Cebu City in June also last year wherein the deployment of more uniformed personnel in the streets and in the communities compelled the people to behave and eventually resulted in the reduction of COVID-19 cases.
“On the part of the PNP Administrative Support on COVID-19 Task Force (ASCOTF) which I head, we will ensure the maximum protection of our personnel that would be deployed by providing them with the necessary protective equipment for their safety from virus infection,” he added.
On the part of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield headed by Police LtGen Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Eleazar said all policemen will undergo a pre-deployment briefing to reiterate the existing policies especially from the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) and the rules on regulations on uniform curfew hours from the Metro Manila Council.
“The implementation of curfew hours is not something that is new to us, especially for the NCRPO personnel now under the leadership of Police Major General Vicente Danao, Jr. We have been doing this even before the COVID-19 pandemic so I expect our personnel to be fully aware and maintain the protocols that we have been observing in the implementation of curfew and at the same time, the minimum health safety standard protocols,” he said.
Police personnel on the ground were reminded of their two (2) rules to avoid unnecessary confrontation with the public: 1. Observe maximum tolerance; and 2. Respect the people’s rights.
“We will be closely monitoring your compliance. And to the public, we also offer a formula to prevent unnecessary confrontation and spare yourself from arrest: 1. Respect the rules on observance of the minimum health safety standard protocols; and 2. Respect the authorities that are enforcing these protocols,” Eleazar said. “The keyword here is RESPECT. If we know how to respect one another, I assure you of smooth curfew implementation. Let us always bear in mind that your PNP is not the enemy here, our common enemy is the coronavirus and it takes our cooperation to contain the spread of the virus.”
For the information of the public and to avoid confusion in the implementation of the uniform curfew hours, here is what you need to know:
Exempted from the Implementation of Uniform Curfew Hours in Metro Manila
March 15 and beyond (10 p.m. – 5 a.m.)
- Medical practitioners, nurses, ambulance drivers and other workers of Medical Facilities while on their way to and from work;
- Attendants of other persons dealing with an emergency medical situation;
- Persons who are obtaining emergency medical assistance for themselves or for other persons;
- Drivers of delivery trucks while on their way to deliver essential goods/products;
- Owners, vendors and other persons involved in the transport and delivery of essential goods;
- Private employees such as call center agents while on their way to and from work;
- Construction workers while on their way to and from work;
- Media practitioners while performing their job;
- Persons who are travelling to or from airport prior to or after a flight;
- Drivers of private transportation used as shuttle services while on their way to and from work;
- Members of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), including AFP, PCG, BFP, and other emergency responders;
- Security guards; and
- Employees of Open Fast Foods (take-out only).