Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — The Department of Justice has encouraged local chief executives to simply approach the Inter-Agency Task Force for any suggestions regarding the face mask mandate instead of going against the protocols set by the national government.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra made the statement on Wednesday amid the standoff between the national government and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia after the latter issued an executive order stating that face masks will only be mandated in closed and air-conditioned spaces and to people manifesting COVID-19 symptoms.
“Ang kailangan lang naman gawin diyan ni Governor Gwen or ng any local government officials who feel na pwede na mag-alis ng mask sa kanilang local government unit, ay lumapit sa IATF, sabihin sa IATF na maybe it’s time to modify yung existing rule natin,” said Guevarra in a press briefing.
[Translation: Governor Gwen or any local government officials should go to the IATF if they feel that wearing face mask is no longer needed in their local government units. They can tell the IATF that maybe it’s time to modify the existing rule.]
Garcia on Tuesday reiterated that the resolutions issued by the IATF are merely “recommendatory in nature,” countering Guevarra’s earlier claim that such resolutions prevail over executive orders issued by local government units.
But the justice chief maintained that the IATF resolutions were backed by President Rodrigo Duterte’s own orders.
“Nangyari itong sa Cebu na ginawa niyang optional yung wearing,” Guevarra said. “Optional that means you may or you may not wear. But that is not consistent with the national regulation na mandatory, whether indoor or outdoor kailangan naka-face mask ka.”
[Translation: Cebu made wearing face mask optional. Optional means that you may or you may not wear them. But that is not consistent with the national regulation that face masks are mandatory both indoors or outdoors.]
Guevarra noted that the IATF is open to any suggestions as long as they are backed with scientific evidence.
“In my experience, napaka-reasonable ang IATF sa mga ganyang issues,” he pointed out. “Madali mag-adjust ang IATF. Kapag may sufficient scientific basis para mag-take ng particular action, mabilis kumilos ang IATF.”
[Translation: In my experience, the IATF is very reasonable with those kinds of issues. The IATF can easily adjust. If there is a sufficient scientific basis to take a particular action, the IATF can act swiftly.]
“Wag mo na banggain diretso. Ang gawin mo lumapit ka na lang sa IATF and make the proposal. That’s it.”
[Translation: Do not go against the rules. Just go to the IATF and make the proposal. That’s it.]
Despite eased restrictions, wearing of face masks remains mandatory.
The Department of Health on Monday reported 1,682 new COVID-19 cases from June 6 to 12, which translates to a daily average of 240 cases, or 30.4% higher than cases from the previous week.
