Law enforcers, frontliners support ECQ extension
Published Apr 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Aaron Recuenco
Police, military, and other frontliners from the government’s law enforcement agencies support the extension of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield, said law enforcement units under the task force have express willingness to extend their tour of duty until April 30, noting the need to continue implementing the home quarantine rules against COVID-19. “On the part of the JTF COVID Shield, all we hear from our people on the ground are expressions of support the extension because they all know that their sacrifices are not only for their families and friends but for the entire Filipino people,” said Eleazar. JTF COVID Shield is the enforcement arm of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID). It is composed of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). JTF CoVid Shield has more than 120,000 policemen, soldiers, firemen, Coast Guard personnel under its command, and most of them are on the checkpoints or are conducting decontamination procedures. President Duterte earlier approved the recommendation of the IATF-MEID for an extension of the ECQ due to the continuing COVID-19 threat. Eleazar said they submit to the expertise and wisdom of the IATF-MEID and fully support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s decision to extend ECQ. “As our crisis managers in this time of pandemic, we leave it up to them all the decisions on what is best for our country,” said Eleazar. “As the enforcement arm of the IATF-MEID, your JTV COVID Shield is fully committed to ensure that all the guidelines under the ECQ are strictly and properly implemented on the ground, not only to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but also to make sure that the economic activities on the ground necessary for the unhampered flow of basic commodities and services essential for the survival of our affected kababayans in this time of pandemic are provided,” he added. Eleazar said they are continually monitoring the situation on the ground through regular on-site inspections and constant communication with local commanders to improve the implementation of ECQ rules, and addressing the inquiries and concerns of the public on the Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) and movement of cargo vehicles through the JTF’s 24/7 hotlines. “We admire and salute the dedication and sacrifices of the men and women of the JTF COVID Shield and their partners, as well as the health workers and other frontliners. All we ask is for the full cooperation and understanding of the public on the strict home quarantine rules that we have been implementing,” said Eleazar. “The sacrifices of everybody—from frontliners to those who are continuously doing their share by staying at home—would all be wasted if we do not achieve our common objective of defeating COVID-19 in the soonest possible time,” he added.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield, said law enforcement units under the task force have express willingness to extend their tour of duty until April 30, noting the need to continue implementing the home quarantine rules against COVID-19. “On the part of the JTF COVID Shield, all we hear from our people on the ground are expressions of support the extension because they all know that their sacrifices are not only for their families and friends but for the entire Filipino people,” said Eleazar. JTF COVID Shield is the enforcement arm of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID). It is composed of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). JTF CoVid Shield has more than 120,000 policemen, soldiers, firemen, Coast Guard personnel under its command, and most of them are on the checkpoints or are conducting decontamination procedures. President Duterte earlier approved the recommendation of the IATF-MEID for an extension of the ECQ due to the continuing COVID-19 threat. Eleazar said they submit to the expertise and wisdom of the IATF-MEID and fully support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s decision to extend ECQ. “As our crisis managers in this time of pandemic, we leave it up to them all the decisions on what is best for our country,” said Eleazar. “As the enforcement arm of the IATF-MEID, your JTV COVID Shield is fully committed to ensure that all the guidelines under the ECQ are strictly and properly implemented on the ground, not only to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but also to make sure that the economic activities on the ground necessary for the unhampered flow of basic commodities and services essential for the survival of our affected kababayans in this time of pandemic are provided,” he added. Eleazar said they are continually monitoring the situation on the ground through regular on-site inspections and constant communication with local commanders to improve the implementation of ECQ rules, and addressing the inquiries and concerns of the public on the Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) and movement of cargo vehicles through the JTF’s 24/7 hotlines. “We admire and salute the dedication and sacrifices of the men and women of the JTF COVID Shield and their partners, as well as the health workers and other frontliners. All we ask is for the full cooperation and understanding of the public on the strict home quarantine rules that we have been implementing,” said Eleazar. “The sacrifices of everybody—from frontliners to those who are continuously doing their share by staying at home—would all be wasted if we do not achieve our common objective of defeating COVID-19 in the soonest possible time,” he added.