THREE more barangay chairmen are facing an investigation over alleged superspreader events in their areas of jurisdiction, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said on Thursday, June 17, 2021.
Año identified these barangay captains as Ireneo H. Cabahug of Barangay Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas; Bobby Daquioag of San Mariano, Sta. Marcela, Apayao; and Franklyn O. Ong of Kasambagan, Cebu City.
He said Cabahug may be held accountable for failure to enforce mandatory wearing of face masks and physical distancing protocols among tourists in a beach resort in his area.
Año said Daquoag attended a wedding ceremony and reception in San Mariano in Apayao while the province was under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) asnd mass gatherings were prohibited.
Ong is being investigated over two separate violations of physical distancing protocols at F-bar and Café and Simatra Café in Kasambagan in Cebu City.
“Inaasahan natin ang tulong ng mga punong barangay sa pagpapatupad ng health protocols pero sa mga insidenteng ito ay lumalabas na hindi nila nagampanan ang kanilang tungkulin at parang naging pabaya sila. Lahat ng ito ay iimbestigahan natin,” Año said.
He said the three village officials could face charges of gross neglect of duty, negligence, serious misconduct, and violation of Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Earlier, eight barangay chairpersons and one barangay watchman were charged over superspreader events in Caloocan City, Navotas, Tondo, Norzagaray in Bulacan, Boracay and Cebu City.
A 60-day preventive suspension was imposed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Romeo Rivera, chairman of Barangay 171 in Caloocan City who failed to monitor and prevent the mass gathering at Gubat sa Ciudad Resort, Barangay 171, Caloocan City on Mothers’ Day.
Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said a total of 67,609 quarantine violations were recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the past week.
Of the 67,609 violations from June 7 to 13, 2021, 51,607 involved non-wearing of face masks, 426 involved mass gatherings, and 15,576 for failure to observe physical distancing. (SunStar Philippines)