Baguio cops turning away 50-70 entrants daily at road borders

By Aileen P. Refuerzo and Dexter A See

BAGUIO CITY – Cops of this summer capital have been turning away 50-70 entrants daily at its borders as a result of stricter implementation of border protocols.
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the most common reasons for entry refusal were the lack of proper documents and non-essential purpose of travel.
    From Aug. 1-21, a total of 377 were sent home for incomplete travel requirements.
    There were 14 apprehended for presenting fake documents.
    Border rule implementation was tightened as early as July to address gaps in drop-and-go and passing-through travels and later as part of the contingency measures against the more dangerous variant.
    The mayor specifically ordered stricter monitoring of all entrances to bar residents in areas placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from coming to the city to the extent of using fabricated travel documents to skirt the city’s entry requirements.
    He urged personnel manning checkpoints and triages to be vigilant and discerning in their scrutiny of travel documents including vaccination cards, identification.
    Baguio police noted a significant decrease in the number of travelers wanting to enter the city through quarantine checkpoints following strict implementation of border control measures to contain rapid spread of Covid-19 and threat of its Delta variant.
    City police chief Col. Glen Lonogan said there had been significant reduction in volume of motorists travelling to the city even during  weekends. 
    Last month, alert police apprehended 14 travelers who possessed fake travel documents in trying to enter the city while nearly 500 travelers were ordered to return to their points of origin for failure to prove that their travel to the city was essential or they did not have the required travel documents.
    Four motor vehicles were impounded by the police because of their intention to smuggle to the city individuals who did not have sufficient travel documents, among others.

    Lonogan said police managing borders are vigilant in inspecting the documents of travelers wanting to enter the city to ensure their travel is essential and they possess the required travel documents to avoid possible infection that might cause the unnecessary surge in COVID-19 cases in the city.

    The police official called on travelers not to take chances in trying to enter the city without possessing the appropriate travel documents as they will be compelled to go back to their points of origin, especially if it will be proven that their travels are not essential.

    Lonogan said travelers should not attempt to enter the city using fake documents as appropriate charges will be filed against them that could result to their eventual detention or delays in their supposed transactions in the city if their travels are essential, thus, they should abide by the ongoing implementation of the stricter border controls.