Warning for non-use of face shield stays: PNP

MANILA – Police officers will continue to warn persons who are not wearing face shields in both open and enclosed spaces, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Friday.

“I-caution na lang muna natin ang mga walang face shield. Karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay nasanay nang magsuot ng face shield at para doon sa mga makikitang hindi nagsusuot nito, paalalahanan na lang muna natin (We will caution first those not wearing face shield. Most of our countrymen are used to wearing a face shield and for those who are not wearing it, let’s just remind them for now),” Eleazar said in a statement.

This came as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the continued mandatory wearing of face shields.

“The latest recommendation of the IATF to the President is to continue making mandatory the wearing of face shields in enclosed spaces, commercial areas, public transport, terminals, and even places of worship,” he said.

Eleazar said that the PNP will wait for the issuance of new guidelines based on the President’s decision.

“Kung may pagbabago man, hihintayin po ng PNP na maibaba ang amended guidelines para iyon ang aming ipatupad. Sa ngayon, status quo muna at susundin muna namin kung ano ang isinasaad ng guidelines para maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng kalituhan ang publiko sa bagay na ito (If there are any changes, the PNP will wait for the amended guidelines to be lowered so that we can implement that. For now, it’s status quo and we will first follow what the guidelines say to avoid confusing the public in this matter),” he said.

In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Duterte has agreed that the public should only be required to wear a face shield when they go to hospitals.

Sotto, during a Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on Tuesday, noted that the Philippines is the only country in the world requiring the use of face shield in public spaces.

On Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the use of face shield will remain in effect while waiting for Duterte’s decision on the IATF’s appeal.