Amid the rising number of quarantine violators nationwide, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will now be imposing strict inspection of private vehicles in Metro Manila.
In an online news briefing on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said President Duterte issued the directive after receiving reports that PNP has already registered 108,088 violators from the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon.
“President Duterte, who is part of the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases], [noted] that the people are getting lax when it comes to the ECQ,” Nograles said.
“So to address this and the reported increase in the number of vehicles traveling along Edsa and other major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, upon the orders of the President, the Philippine National Police will strictly impose the policy on authorized persons outside of residence [APOR],” he added.
He explained the PNP Highway Patrol Group will be issuing Land Transportation Office (LTO) violation receipt, or Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Ordinance Violation Receipt, against drivers of private vehicles transporting unauthorized persons.
Within the duration of the ECQ in Luzon, Nograles said only those authorized by the IATF, such as medical workers and other essential frontliners, will be allowed to travel outside of their homes.
“This is all being done for us and for our families in order to prevent the virus from spreading,” Nograles said.