People going through checkpoints cooperative: AFP

FILE: A police personnel checks the identification card of a jeepney passenger as part of the government’s implementation of the community quarantine to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease which has so far infected 140 persons in the country. The 30-day community quarantine in the National Capital Region started on Sunday (March 15, 2020). (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), which was deployed to help the police in the 30-day community quarantine in Metro Manila, said people being inspected in the checkpoints have initially proven cooperative.

This was said by JTF-NCR public affairs officer, 1st Lt. Arrianne Bichara when asked by reporters for an initial assessment on the first day of the implementation of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) countermeasure on Sunday.

She added that their deployment was smooth and reports coming from troops helping the police in the checkpoint boundaries revealed that the public was cooperative and that no problems were being encountered.

“As of this time wala naman naging problem pa in (there are no problems) dealing with the civilians. The JTF-NCR is here to assist the PNP and help the people,” Bichara said.

She added that additional thermal scanners and personal protection equipment (PPEs) are expected to augment those now being used by JTF-NCR personnel.

“Rest assured that the JTF-NCR is implementing the preventive measures instituted by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force),” she added.

As of this time, military squads deployed to help man the checkpoints have two thermal scanners for checking temperatures of persons passing through while the remainder are tasked to look into identification cards of these individuals.