IDs a must, firearms a no-no during curfew

People who need to be outside their homes during a curfew between midnight of Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday must have their ID cards ready, while those found carrying firearms will be automatically brought in for "verification."

Interior Secretary and presidential political adviser Ronaldo Puno said Thursday night he also ordered the police personnel manning the checkpoints to be "reasonable and respectful."

"We will be reasonable and respectful in all these checkpoints. (But) everyone moving at this period should be sure they have their IDs and are not carrying weapons of any sort," he said.

Those without ID cards will merely be "inconvenienced," he said.

"It is a necessary inconvenience but necessary to maintain peace and order," he added.

He said those carrying weapons "whether licensed or otherwise" will automatically be brought to the nearest police precinct for verification.

For his part, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. said the curfew is a process to restore peace and order in Metro Manila.

"Hopefully it is a process para ma-restore ang peace and order sa Kamaynilaan. So far yun pa lang ang ating tinitingnan (Hopefully it is a process to restore peace and order to Metro Manila) ... Hopefully we will do it for only one day," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Source: GMANews.TV
Dated: 11/29/2007