DILG exec recommends total lockdown of barangays with residents who continue to violate ECQ guidelines

An official from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday recommended a total lockdown for some barangays whose residents continue to violate the guidelines of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

"Ang rekomendasyon ko sa DILG na talagang total lockdown na... at saka itong mga malalaking barangay, ito 'yung maraming pasaway eh," DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

"Ang rekomendasyon ko rito, wala ng taong puwedeng pumunta sa kalsada pag wala kang ID kasi pati barangay kapitan pababa, dapat naka-ID sila dahil ito ho 'yung puso't diwa ng ating ipinatutupad na enhanced community quarantine," he added.

Diño said he had noticed that residents started to go outside of their residences again after the observance of Holy Week. He also said authorities could have been lax in securing barangays and manning control points.

"After Holy Week, ngayon punta ka sa kalsada, ang dami na naman... nagtra-traffic pa ngayon, ibig sabihin lumuwag ang checkpoint natin..." Diño said.

"Sa mga palengke, talagang hindi natin maaalis na diyan talaga ang puntahan ng tao kaya lang noong una, 'yang Blumentritt market, may social distancing diyan, isinara nila lahat ng papasok tapos pinapila nila ang mga tao. Nagtataka kami kung bakit naglabasan ito... ibig sabihin lumuwag 'yung ating pagbabantay sa barangay," he explained.

The DILG official then warned local government officials that they could be penalized if they fail to implement the rules and regulations of the strict quarantine in their respective areas. 

"Ito ang pinakamabigat na batas ngayon, [Republic Act] 11469... sa Section 6, ito po 'yung penalties... ikaw ay makukulong ng dalawang buwan, ikaw ay magbabayad ng P10,000 hanggang isang milyon... Sino-sino ang tatamaan dito? Local government officials... at saka ito may perpetual disqualification.." he said.

He said the DILG would continue to issue show cause orders against governors, mayors and barangay officials who will not do their respective duties and responsibilities amid the quarantine.

On Tuesday, the DILG issued show cause orders against some barangay officials in Metro Manila as they allegedly allowed outdoor activities such as parade and cockfighting in their areas despite the prohibition of any forms of mass gathering. 

Diño's recommendation came after some incidents in Metro Manila in which residents continue to go out of their homes.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno had ordered a 24-hour shutdown in Barangay 20 in Tondo as residents supposedly had a boxing event and bingo activity in their area.

More than 100 cops were deployed in the barangay to secure the area, which covers Isla Puting Bato and Parola Compound.

On Good Friday, barangay officials from Caloocan City were also reported to have staged a cockfight at the Manila North Cemetery.

Those involved, who were identified as Barangay 129 Chairman Brix John Rolly Reyes, and Kagawad Alfie Lacson, Romualdo Reyes and John Cris Domingo, already surrendered to authorities. — RSJ, GMA News