MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. on Monday ordered all police officers to follow the national government’s rule enforcing mask mandates across the country.

Danao made the remark as a clarification over the conflicting views of the Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) and the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) on Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s Executive Order (EO) 16 which made the wearing of face masks in open and well-ventilated spaces in the province optional.

“Remember we are members of the Philippine Government so whatever the mandate or whatever the Secretary of Interior and Local Government says, we should follow. We have the national IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force),” he said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Over the weekend, PRO-7 chief Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega sided with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ rule on the mandatory wearing of face masks, saying this is in compliance with the pronouncement of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

However, this was countered by CPPO chief Lt. Col. Engelbert Soriano, who sided with Garcia on the implementation of EO 16.

Earlier, Garcia said that there was “no legal basis” for authorities to apprehend persons who don’t wear face masks outdoors in the province.

This was countered by DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said persons who violate health protocols such as wearing face masks may be arrested “if necessary.”

While he respects Garcia’s right to question rules set by the national government, Danao said the PNP, as a general rule, will follow the chain of command.

The province of Cebu is the first local government in the country to implement the optional wearing of face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the country’s mask mandate will remain in effect until he steps down on June 30. (PNA)