Ex-QC barangay official to face charges for quarantine violation

The Quezon City Government is preparing to file charges against a former barangay official and his son after they violated quarantine protocols in the city amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Mayor Joy Belmonte, the former councilman and his family took a swab test when the son tested positive for COVID-19 after a drinking session with another positive individual.

“The family has been ordered to undergo quarantine while waiting for the result of their swab tests, but he failed to comply,” Belmonte said in a statement.

The swab results of the barangay official also came out positive.

“Napag-alaman natin na pasaway itong dating opisyal na ito dahil lumabas at nakisalamuha pa siya sa mga kapitbahay kahit na naghihintay sila ng resulta ng anak niyang nagpa-swab test,” Ricky Corpuz, the Barangay Community Relations Department head, said.

City Attorney Nino Casimiro said that individuals who break quarantine may be returned to quarantine by barangay or city officials under Ordinance No. SP-2958 S-2020, which prohibits the violation of quarantine protocols.

“Papanagutin natin siya at ang kanyang anak sa kanilang ginawa na naglagay sa buong komunidad sa panganib,” Casimiro said.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Health Department may re-adjust the quarantine period and have the violators isolated in a quarantine facility in the city.

The violators may also be fined P1,000, P3,000, and P5,000 for the first, second, and third offense, respectively. They may also face appropriate charges under Republic Act No. 11332.

Street lockdown

Due to the breach in protocols, the local government has placed the former official’s street under a total lockdown.

This was recommended by City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head Rolly Cruz so that the local government may be able to monitor the 26 families in the area.

The mayor has also ordered the CESU to conduct contact tracing efforts after the unnamed official’s results came out positive.

“After our contact tracing, we determined that 15 individuals who had close contact with him need to undergo swab testing,” Cruz said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News