ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., ordered the closure and full quarantine of the Philippine Rehabilitation Institute (PRI) in Barangay Pampang here after admitting one patient positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and three persons under investigation (PUI) from Quezon City without the knowledge of the city government.
“PRI has put the entire Angeles City in danger. Pinalusutan nila tayo ng positive patient na hindi taga-rito,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin deployed policemen and barangay tanods round the clock to secure PRI and ensure that no personnel or patient will be allowed to go out.
Lazatin said all people inside PRI will be under quarantine.
Lazatin learned Saturday night that PRI officials allowed the admission of one positive COVID-19 patient and three PUIs from Quezon City, on Friday, March 27, 2020, violating the earlier agreement that PRI will only cater COVID-19 patients from the city.
Lazatin also ordered the Business Permit and Licensing Divison to immediately revoke the business permit of PRI.
“The city government will also prepare legal actions against PRI for putting the entire Angeles City in danger. Under my term, hindi na mabubuksan yang hospital na yan,” Lazatin said.
In a related development, Lazatin ordered the Angeles City Police to strictly implement the enhanced community quarantine.
“Wala na pong makakapasok sa syudad Angeles maliban na lamang sa pagkain, medical emergency na hindi connected sa COVID 19 at yung iilang nakasaad sa direktiba ng DILG,” Lazatin said.