Malabon LGU threatens arrest vs. residents refusing COVID-19 test

The Malabon local government sternly warned that residents who will refuse COVID-19 testing would be arrested by authorities as the total number of infected in the city reached over 1,700.

According to Mark Salazar's report on GMA's 24 Oras on Friday, the local government has been having a hard time convincing its constituents who had close contact with COVID-19 patients to get tested.

"Marami pong ayaw magpa-test. Na-identify na sila ng ating BHERT (Barangay Health Emergency Response Team), ng ating City Health Office na dapat ay magpa-testing pero tumatanggi po silang magpa-test," Malabon City Administrator Voltaire Dela Cruz said.

"Alam ninyo naman ang Pinoy natatakot na malaman kung anong totoong kalagayan niya. Mayroon din naman po ayaw nilang ma-discriminate kung sila ay nakitang positive," he added.

Aside from the 150 daily tests being allotted by the local government for its contact tracing efforts, 500 more tests per day are being allotted by the national government for Malabon residents as part of the expanded community testing (ECT).

The goal of the ECT is to test individuals residing in critical areas within the city, such as those being occupied by informal settlers.

Dela Cruz said uncooperative residents will be arrested by virtue of several laws.

"Number one po dito ay 'yung ating Revised Penal Code may provision on disobedience to a person of authority, tapos 'yung nilabas during COVID na Republic Act 11332 'yung or non-cooperation," he said.

"Hindi po ito papasok sa kahit anong prohibition ng Constitution and besides, mas umiiral po ang kapakanan ng nakakarami," he added.

As of July 30, there are 1,756 confirmed cases in Malabon City, and 725 of which are active cases.

Meanwhile, two barangays in Caloocan will be placed under lockdown for a week—Barangays 142 and 132 starting August 1 and August 2, respectively.

The Caloocan City Medical Center South will temporarily be closed from August 1 to 14 after 61 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. -Dona Magsino/MDM, GMA News