Duterte orders LGUs to 'stand down,’ follow lockdown guidelines

LGUs told: Withdraw directives inconsistent with national policy
MANILA (UPDATE)- President Rodrigo Duterte ordered local government executives to abide by the enhanced community quarantine guidelines set by the national government in Luzon on early Friday morning after reports of inconsistent policies implemented in different communities reached the Palace.

Duterte, in a pre-dawn video message, reminded local government officials that they are part of one republic and should thus follow the rules set by national government’s inter-agency task force (IATF) leading the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am ordering all LGUs that are doing this to stand down and abide by the directives of the IATF, not mine, but the task force," he said.

“The national government needs your help in this time. But I have to tell you, do not make this quarantine more difficult for our people than it already is…There is only one republic here, the Republic of the Philippines, and therefore you should abide by the directives of the national government," he said.

Duterte said that although he understands the mandate of the local government officials, they still have to follow the national government because the country is under a state of public health emergency.

"I know you have the mandate to deal with the emergencies affecting your localities. I was a mayor myself in case you have forgotten but this is an emergency of national proportions and therefore it is the national government that should call the shots," he said.

The President also directed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to monitor the compliance of each local government unit.

"I am therefore directing the DILG and the DOJ to closely monitor the compliance of LGUs in the directives of the office and to file the necessary cases against the wayward officials," the chief executive said.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier reminded local officials that they could face administrative and criminal charges should they go against the directives set by the national government.

By: ABS-CBN News