Local officials in Metro Manila have allowed pillion riding for motorcycles under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) which was re-imposed in the national capital region and its adjoining provinces.
At the same time, Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa encouraged barangay officials in MECQ-covered areas to put up their own quick controls points (QCPs) and man them with their own barangay law enforcement personnel.
Gamboa said the measure was needed in order to free policemen from the added burden putting up and securing QCPs in areas under MECQ.
The decision to allow back-riding in motorcycles was reached by Metro Manila mayor just hours before the MECQ took effect just before midnight on Monday according to PNP Directorate for Operations director Major Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup.
“The Metro mayors agreed to strike a balance between our economy and putting people at home, and we agreed to allow pillion riding even if you are not couples here in Metro Manila,” said Licup on Tuesday.
Back-riding has also been allowed in Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan and Cavite.
Licup said they allowed two people on a motorcycle because of the absence of public transportation, but they also have to be among those who are classified as authorized person outside of residence (APOR), especially a health worker and a frontliner.
Policemen manning QCPs have been ordered to be strict in enforcing the regulations.
“Our instructions to our personnel manning our QCPs, they have to be strict enough for everyone to understand that we are doing this because of the pandemic,” Licup sid.
He said police officials were also directed to coordinate with local officials for them to identify and allot areas where those who would be apprehended violating the MECQ could be held following the order of the Supreme Court that violators could not be held in Bureau of Management and Penology-run jails.
Licup said that holding violators in open areas and even in gymnasiums will ensure that “we don’t violate the social distancing… because we don’t want to be violators and at the same time we are also the ones enforcing.”
Image credits: Bernard Testa