Residents of QC barangay face discrimination after detection of coronavirus variant -mayor

Residents of Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City have experienced discrimination after a patient, which happens to be residing in the said barangay, had tested positive for COVID-19 with the new variant, Mayor Joy Belmonte said Thursday.

At a press conference, Belmonte shared that the barangay captain of Kamuning had informed her that some residents were no longer allowed to go to work because of the incident.

"Tumawag na sa akin kanina ang kapitan ng Barangay Kamuning at sinabi niya na napakarami sa kaniyang mamamayan ang takot na takot na, nangangamba na at marami din sa kanila ang di na pinayagang pumasok sa iba't iba nilang tanggapan bilang mga empleyado," Belmonte said.

According to the mayor, the supposed discrimination was brought by the "premature" announcement of the patient’s infection of the new variant.

"In other words, they were not allowed to report for work. That is very very sad because this is lack of information and lack of education and lack of awareness that could have been curtailed or avoided have we been given the opportunity to inform the public properly about it," she said.

Belmonte reminded employers that anti-discrimination measures are being enforced in the city, stressing that there is no basis to "discriminate" against Kamuning residents.

"Gusto ko ring ipaalam din sa mga employers ng iba't ibang opisina, nauunawaan ko po kung kayo po ay nangangamba pero dito sa lungsod Quezon mayroon tayong tinatawag na anti-discrimination ordinance at isa po tayo sa lungsod na nagpasa nito sapagkat alam natin na because of ignorance, sometimes we do things that are uncalled or unjust for," Belmonte said.

"This is something we are ready to pursue kung patuloy pa ring dinidiscriminate ang mga mamamayan ng Barangay Kamuning nang dahil sa kasong ito na wala namang batayan para sila ay madiscriminate," she added.

Belmonte said has yet to find out the name of the companies not allowing their workers to report for work.

"Hindi ko alam 'yung mga detalye basta ang binalita lang sa akin ng kapitan, they have been experiencing discrimination in the barangay," Belmonte said.

Belmonte reiterated that the patient did not reach his home in Kamuning upon his arrival in the Philippines from Dubai as he immediately stayed in an isolation facility.

She said those who have direct contact with the patient have already been tested and placed under quarantine. -MDM, GMA News