Gamboa seeks full public cooperation during GCQ

PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Archie Francisco F. Gamboa yesterday called on the Filipino people to fully cooperate with General Community Quarantine protocols in Metro Manila and other parts of the country starting on Monday as part of the government’s continuing effort to fight the spread of the killer COVID-19 virus.

“We are now on the penultimate leg of transition to the new normal as we shift abruptly our way of life to cope with prescribed health standards in response to the health crisis.IATF guidelines on General Community Quarantine will remain in effect from today onwards. That means checkpoints, curfew, travel restrictions, and minimum health standards will continue to be enforced,” the PNP chief said in a virtual presser.

According to the top cop, “the new normal will henceforth require everybody’s continued cooperation, patience, and understanding. Reason and public interest shall be the paramount consideration in every human activity from hereon, at least, until such time when the world shall have completely eradicated the virus,” he explained.

Gen. Gamboa said the PNP thru the Joint Task Force COVID Shield headed by Lieutenant Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, in coordination with the PNP Highway Patrol Group and the Metro Manila Development Authority will strictly implement the direction of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año that traveling from a general community quarantine area to another GCQ must still be for availing essential goods and services only. However, quarantine passes will be no longer needed in these areas.

He also maintained that the 205,000-strong police force and the 125,000-strong Armed Forces are united in following the direction of President Duterte to strictly enforce new normal law to both save the nation from COVID-19 and to save the sources of livelihood of every Filipino and the  nation’s economy.

“Nakasalalay po sa inyong PNP kasama ang AFP katuwang ang local government units ang pagpapatupad nang mga bagong alintuntunin para na rin sa kaligtasan ng bawat Pilipino. Kaya aming sisiguruhin na ipapatupad namin ang batas sa lahat ng lalabag sa new normal regulations.

Ngunit, nakasalalay din sa disiplina at pagmamahal sa buhay at sa bayan ng bawat Pilipino ang ikaliligtas nating lahat ngayong new normal habang naghihintay tayo ng bakuna laban sa nakamamatay na pandemic,” he said.

To support the mobility requirements of PNP units in the communities, I have instructed the fielding of bike patrol units for police visibility and quick response to call for assistance.