AN OFFICIAL of Barangay Felisa in Bacolod City clarified that it is not the role of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) to extract coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive patients from their residents and to transfer them to the city's quarantine facility.
"It is very clear to us, together with our partner agencies, as what roles were only given or instructed to BHERTS," Felisa Barangay Captain Ramon Jardin said in a statement.
This came after a video was posted by one of the family members from the barangay, accusing the ambulance team of violating the health protocols by not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when getting a Covid-19 patient.
Emotions went high on the video, which was posted over the weekend. It is now making rounds on social media and has been gaining mixed reactions from netizens.
Some family members can be heard cursing the ambulance personnel who then went inside the medical service vehicle after noticing that they are being videoed.
The ambulance then was seen leaving the area.
"As per video posted, BHERTs of Barangay Felisa were only there to inform the patient and the immediate family to prepare because the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) staff are coming to extract the patient. We strongly stand that it is not right and just to malign and speak ill against our frontliners who were just doing their jobs and risking their lives to assist our positive patients. We are only there to inform and not to extract the patient," Jardin said.
He said it is worthy to note that the video posted is only a small portion of the whole story.
"We are all vulnerable to the dangers that this social media can bring to us. The only thing we can do is to know what is true and what is accurate. Rest assured Barangay Felisa Council is doing its best and is one with the city and the nation in fighting our common enemy, Covid-19," he added.
"We are proud that for the past week, we are among the Covid-free barangays of Bacolod and our efforts were recognized by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). On that result and recognition, we are eager to serve more and do what is best for our beloved Felisanhons especially in these trying times," he said.
Lennon Dela Cruz, who posted the video, earlier said it is true that they were just informed that their mother tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
But for them, it is still a violation on the part of the barangay ambulance team to enter their house without wearing PPEs despite knowing that there is a Covid-19 patient there.
Dela Cruz said they apologized to those who have watched the video, particularly on the curse words thrown by his parents.