The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is investigating its personnel in Batangas City who had a party and allegedly violated health protocols.
A video taken last August 21 in a restaurant in the city shows more than 10 individuals merry-making and dancing without observing social distancing. Some of them were not wearing face masks and shields.
The gathering was said to have been held for outgoing Batangas City Fire Marshall Major Elaine Evangelista who was supposed to be reassigned as chief of the Biῆan Fire Station. All BFP staff involved in the incident have been relieved from duty, including Evangelista whose reassignment was withdrawn.
“Sa ngayon po ay binigyan sila ng show cause order ng IAS (Internal Affairs Service) for them to answer at hinihintay natin ‘yun (For now, they have been issued show cause orders by the IAS for them to answer and we are waiting for it),” BFP Chief F/Dir. Jose Embang said.
“Tuloy-tuloy naman po ‘yung investigation sa kanila. Once nakapag-submit na sila, then magbibigay ng report ‘yung task force natin (The investigation is ongoing. Once they submit, our task force will give a report),” Embang added.
Evangelista explained they were just supposed to have a regular monthly meeting and turnover ceremony for her replacement but it turned out to be a surprise.
“Hindi ko na ‘yun mapigilan dahil unang-una, hindi ko po siguro ‘yun mawawala sa kanila dahil for almost two years ‘yung mga pinagsamahan namin, responde, lalo na po ngayong 2020 during Taal eruption then ito pong nag-ECQ (I could not stop it since first of all, I cannot take it away from them because we have grown closer for almost two years as we responded especially this 2020 with the Taal eruption and ECQ),” Evangelista stated.
Evangelista has already submitted her explanation to the BFP while the probe is ongoing. She has taken full responsibility for what happened and is open to whatever results of the investigation will be.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) made it clear that it will not tolerate any violations of the IATF guidelines within its ranks. – Report from Patrick de Jesus
