Residents of Sitio San Roque Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, staged a protest Wednesday in North Edsa for failing to receive any government assistance amid the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The group identified as Samahang Magkapitbahay accused Mayor Joy Belmonte and Barangay Official Rody Palma for being selective.
Ngayon po ‘yung pangako nila sa sinabi ni Pres. Duterte na i-house-to-house ‘yung tulong papunta sa amin – ‘yung bigas, ‘yung grocery – wala po kaming natanggap (They promised, as mentioned by Pres. Duterte, the house-to-house delivery of aid such as rice and grocery. We have not received any),” Samahang Magkapitbahay leader Jocy Lopez added.
Police personnel arrived at the scene in the middle of the protest. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the demonstrators are also members of Kadamay.
NCRPO Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas relayed how their policemen advised the protesters to go home in accordance with the ECQ policies but were defied.
The group argued with personnel of the Quezon City Police District which led to the arrest of 20 of its members. They are now under the custody of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.
Meanwhile, Bagong Pag-asa Kagawad Edgardo Madrigal tried to explain their system of distribution, “Hindi lang namin mabigyan lahat sa dami ng tao. At pag naubos na bumabalik na kami. Marami ng napamigay, siguro almost 3k to 4k packs ‘yung galing kay Mayor at galing sa Brgy. (We cannot provide assistance for everyone due to the large number of people. When we run out [of supplies], we go back. We have distributed a lot, around 3k to 4k packs, from Mayor and the Barangay).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government USec. Martin Diño said the idea that the protesters may have instigated the mass gathering is being considered.
The local government of Quezon City is set to release a statement on the matter. – Report from Allan Francisco
