The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has clarified that the viral memorandum from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is only an internal memo. The memorandum states that the PAF must prepare for the deployment of the AFP as head of security during the enhanced community quarantine.
According to AFP Spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, PAF Chief Lieutenant General Allen Paredes has confirmed that it is an internal memo meant to give advance information to their personnel.
President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier ordered the AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) to prepare for a more stringent implementation of the ECQ after being dismayed by the number of curfew violators.
“Sa ngayon wala pa na namang utos ang Pangulo na magdeploy na. (For now, there is no order from the President to deploy.) But it is incumbent and customary on the part of the leadership of the Philippine Air Force, and the AFP under General Felimon Santos Jr, for that matter, to exercise its initiative in alerting and preparing our personnel including rules of engagement,” AFP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Arevalo clarified.
Several Local Government Units (LGUs) have come to the AFP for help in the implementation of the ECQ guidelines in their respective areas. “What we should all be alarmed about instead is the fact that a lot of people are blatantly violating the law and disobeying the rules and health protocols which must be strictly enforced, otherwise people die,” AFP Spokesperson Arevalo added.
In the latest data of the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield, there are 133, 000 curfew violators.
The PNP has also assured that their actions on the President’s directive will be in accordance with the law.
“Tinitiyak natin sa ating publiko na wala pong rebellion at wala din naman state of invasion kaya wala pong Martial Law na magaganap (We are assuring the public that there is no rebellion and state invasion, so there will be no Martial Law),” PNP Spokesperson Bernard Banac said.
Meanwhile, National Task Force for COVID-19 Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has ordered additional military deployment in Metro Manila and other areas with high cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to enforce the ECQ protocol and social distancing. – Report from Bea Bernardo
