PNP assures unhampered passage of food, commodities
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured that it would not block the passage of all deliveries of foods and commodities, according to its spokesman.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that police would strictly follow the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force in all of the Quarantine Control Points (QCPs).
“All PNP units manning Quarantine Control Points have already been directed to allow unimpeded passage of all deliveries of food and basic goods and commodities based on IATF guidelines,” Banac told The Manila Times in a message.
However, on reports that local government units (LGUs) are not following the guidelines and hampering the cargoes of goods, Banac said that the police would continue to talk to the LGU’s to ensure that guidelines were being followed.
“We will continue to engage them in dialogue. IATF guidelines will be followed,” Banac noted.
Banac also said that Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has already disseminated the guidelines on checkpoints to the LGUs.
Previously, PNP Deputy for Operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar also said that coordination with the LGUs was a challenge in the implementation of the lockdown.
Eleazar reminded LGU’s that cargoes should be allowed to enter the checkpoints to prevent unrest and looting, and to follow what were written on the guidelines to avoid confusion.
“May mga sinasabi nating konting confusion kasi yung ibang sumbong na po kasi ay nadedelay daw or naharang sila [There is some confusion, some complained of delay and they were stopped],” Eleazar said in a press briefing.