The Manila City government on Tuesday also opened more entry points and assigned window hours for shopping at its Blumentritt area after a “surge” of consumers crowded the markets. The local government said the influx of buyers was due to the recent closure of the Balintawak markets to retail consumers in Quezon City.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) — Authorities may arrest those who refuse to follow physical distancing guidelines in public markets, the Philippine National Police warned Tuesday.
During the Laging Handa virtual press briefing, PNP deputy chief for operations PltGen Guillermo Eleazar claimed that policemen are now implementing the government directive to ensure physical distancing in public markets in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“Ang ating mga chiefs of police ay binigyan ng direktiba sa kanilang nasasakupan na magpatulong sa mga barangay tanod at gumawa ng kaparaanan na masunod ang ating physical distancing, otherwise pwedeng arestuhin ‘yang mga ‘yan,” he said.
[Translation: Our chiefs of police were given directives to coordinate with barangay officers in ensuring that physical distancing will be observed, otherwise, violators may be arrested.]
“Binabalaan natin ang ating mga pasaway na kababayan na kung kayo po ay mag-insist na maging pasaway, magsisisi kayo na kayo ay naaresto, kayo ay makukulong at maghihintay kung kailan kayo makakalabas. Iyon po ang babala na binibigay namin sa inyo,” Eleazar warned the public.
[Translation: We are warning those who are thinking of breaking the rules, if you insist on violating the law, you will regret it if you get arrested, you will be put in jail and will have to wait for your release. That’s the warning we are giving you.]
Cabinet Secretary and Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson Karlo Nograles previously noted that soldiers and policemen will have to be deployed in public markets in coordination with local government units to enforce the directive on physical distancing and ensure the safety of the market-goers.
Eleazar said Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano had already ordered authorities to reprimand those who refuse to abide by the law.
He added that additional barangay forces can be deployed if necessary.
Over the weekend, the Quezon City government ordered a stop to retail selling in the Balintawak markets after crowds were seen in the area despite the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
