MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday to evaluate and reconsider a new regulation that prohibits the “hatid-sundo” or fetching practice, for authorized persons outside of residence (APORs).
CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement on Wednesday that the commission fully understands why the PNP considered prohibiting these fetching practices during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila in order to “manage the surge of infection brought about by the Covid Delta variant”.
“The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) stresses that providing mobility to APORs, while ensuring their health and safety, must always be considered in implementing policies that restrict the movement of the general public,” she said.
De Guia stated that front-line workers such as health workers and essential industry employees, as well as other APORs, should not be denied the right to a safe mode of transportation.
“It also exposes them to a higher risk of infection as there is no guarantee that there are enough public utility vehicles available during ECQ,” de Guia added.
The authorities’ concern about suspected exploitation of the ‘hatid-sundo’ plan, she says, can be addressed by requiring documentary verification “that the passengers and driver of the vehicle are actually APORs or authorized persons to fetch APORs.”
“We call on the PNP to review this measure and put into consideration the welfare of our APORs,” de Guia said.
De Guia stated that the government must recognize the invaluable contributions of the front-liners and continue to support them in carrying out their duty in the midst of the pandemic.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in an earlier radio interview that fetching and bringing APORs to and from their workplaces and homes would not be permitted during the two-week ECQ in Metro Manila “as it might be used as an excuse” to skip the stay at home regulations.
