Villanueva urges public to follow ECQ to avoid enforcement

Senator Joel Villanueva is urging the public to strictly follow the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) protocols to avoid the need for police and military enforcement.

Villanueva emphasized that the police and military already have numerous responsibilities and that public cooperation is crucial in the fight against the virus.

This appeal comes after President Rodrigo Duterte warned of a martial law-like enforcement if quarantine rules continue to be violated.

As of April 13, the Philippine National Police had recorded over 108,000 violators of the Luzon-wide ECQ guidelines.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also pointed to public disobedience as a reason for the rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, expressing shame over the country's ranking in the ASEAN region.