By Ryan Lesigues
A day before the re-implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over the National Capital Region (NCR) and some neighboring provinces, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned all barangay captains to strictly implement health standards against COVID-19.
This was after DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño received allegations that some barangay officials are not fulfilling their duty at the barangay level to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including those not following or implementing the minimum health standards.
“’Yung mga barangay captain ngayon na nagpapabaya — ito, sunod-sunod na ang tawag sa amin at sunod-sunod na ang pagsusumbong sa akin na pinababayaan. And ‘yung mga tao sa labas ng bahay, nag-iinuman,” he said at the Balitaan sa Maynila virtual briefing today.
[Those barangay captains who are neglectful — the calls are coming in to us one after the other reporting their neglect. And there are people outside their homes, drinking.]
Diño issued the warning that any barangay official who neglects their duties may face a complaint.
“Huwag ninyo pabayaan ang inyong mga kanya-kanyang lugar. Definitely kakasuhan po kayo based on the Bayanihan 2 [law], nakalagay diyan sanction to all LGU official from governor, mayor, down to the punong barangay.”
[Do not neglect your respective jurisdictions. Definitely you will be charged based on the Bayanihan 2 Act, which imposes sanctions on all local government officials from governor, mayor, down to the head of barangay.]
He also called upon barangay captains to report erring officials at the barangay level to him, and those in higher positions to DILG Usec. for Operations Epimaco Densing III.
“Mga kapitan, tinatawagan ko na kayo ngayon. Bigay niyo na kay Densing ‘yung mayor at saka ‘yung mga matataas ‘yung pwesto. Basta sa akin kayong mga barangay captain at mga barangay officials,” he said.
[Captains, I am calling upon you now. Give Densing the mayors and those in higher positions. Give me the barangay captains and barangay officials.]
The official added that when ECQ was first implemented in the country, 89 barangay officials were suspended while 500 others were probed under case build-up.
Diño also clarified that a quarantine pass will still be required upon the start of ECQ.
“Definitely once na bumalik ang mga ECQ. ‘Yan naman ang mga requirements natin…limited na ang paglabas kamukha noong ginawa natin noong ECQ noon,” he said. ECQ was last imposed in 2020, when the pandemic first hit the country.
[Definitely when ECQ is reimposed. That’s one of our requirements. Movement outside the house is limited, like what we did the last time we were under ECQ.]
The official also urged barangay captains to immediately file cases against those caught violating the ECQ.
“Higpitan nila, kamukha ng utos. Hindi na pwede ‘yung sasawayin mo lang. Kasuhan mo na ‘yan. Kung hindi man ‘yan madala sa presinto dahil sa social distancing, pwede naman kayo magbigay ng mga subpoena, pagkatapos certificate of file action in court, para ‘pag natapos itong pandemya na ito ay may haharapin silang kaso sa korte.”
[Be strict, just like the law says. You can’t just dance around them anymore. Charge them, and if you can’t take them to the precinct because of social distancing regulations, you can issue them subpoenas, then file a certification of file action in court, so that when this pandemic is over they will be facing a court case.]
After the government noted an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced on Saturday night that ECQ is being imposed on Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna from March 29 to April 4. During this period, a curfew will be applied from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
