MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte warned he would order the military and police to enforce a “martial law-like” lockdown to stop people flouting the enhanced community quarantine imposed to curtail the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“I’mjust asking for your disiplina. Kasi pag ayaw ninyo, ayaw ninyong maniwala, mag-takeover ang military pati pulis. I am ordering them now to be ready,” said Duterte in an address to the public on Thursday evening.
“Ang pulis pati military ang mag-enforce sa social distancing at ‘yung curfew. Sila na. Parang martial law na rin,” he added. “Mamili kayo. Ayaw ko, pero pagka naipit na yung bayan at walang disiplina kayo.”
Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, the commander of Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said that they have contingency measures ready to be implemented depending on what President Duterte will order.
“The JTF COVID Shield is ready for any scenario and is always ready to comply with the President’s order,” Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar also said that more cops have been deployed in public markets to ensure that social distancing is being observed. There are also additional forces along EDSA to curb the influx of non-essential vehicles.
Since March 17, more or less 120,000 violators of the enhanced community quarantine have been recorded. A number of public utility vehicles have also been apprehended as their operations are temporarily banned.
“We understand the frustration on the part of President Rodrigo Duterte because despite knowing the danger of COVID-19 and repeated warnings, a lot of people continue to find ways and make excuses to violate the home quarantine and physical distancing rules,” Eleazar said.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has said on Thursday that the government is considering a “total lockdown” if the public continues to disobey the guidelines set by Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease.
“Hindi po fake news na kinukunsidera ang total lockdown lalong lalo na kung magpapatuloy ‘yung mga pasaway sa ating mga kalsada,” Roque said. “Kapag hindi natin nabawasan ang mga kaso ng COVID, isa ‘yan sa option na ikukunsidera.”/PN
