NCR Plus border checkpoints stay despite shift to GCQ

MANILA – Quarantine control points (QCPs) will remain in place in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus borders, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

In a statement, PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar also ordered policemen manning the QCPs to arrest and charge those who would be caught smuggling people in and out of the NCR Plus using cargo vehicles and vans and to impound them.

“The PNP will strictly implement the guidelines issued by the national government regarding the latest quarantine status. Ang NCR Plus nga po ay nasa GCQ (general community quarantine) with heightened restrictions, meaning hindi pa rin po papayagan ang non-essential o unnecessary travel papasok at palabas ng NCR Plus (NCR Plus is on GCQ with heightened restrictions, meaning non-essential or unnecessary travels going and out of the NCR Plus),” he said.

Eleazar’s order came after several people were arrested in March and in April for defying the rules on essential travels.

NCR Plus, made up of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, has been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31.

Eleazar also appealed to business establishments allowed to operate to strictly observe the assigned capacity and comply with health protocols.

He warned that the establishments could be ordered closed if they do not follow the guidelines set by the national government, particularly by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Aside from NCR Plus, the following areas will be under GCQ from May 15 to 31: Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Quezon, Puerto Princesa, Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur.

Santiago City in Isabela, Zamboanga City, and the provinces of Quirino and Ifugao will remain under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine, while the rest of the country is under modified GCQ. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)