(CNN Philippines, April 11) — The coronavirus disease has reached Kawit, Cavite, its municipal mayor reported this weekend.
Kawit Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo said in a Facebook post that a town resident who works as a security guard in a condominium in Makati City is the locality’s first reported COVID-19 case.
The guard is a resident of Barangay Toclong. The mayor confirmed that the security personnel was tested for COVID-19 at the Makati Medical Center. He said the person left the hospital against the doctor’s recommendations.
Aguinaldo also said they are investigating a possible breach of their protocol involving their first COVID-19 case as he condemned the escape from the hospital.
He said all COVID-19 cases must be reported to his office so appropriate action can be taken to prevent the spread of the respiratory infection.
Making things worse, a barangay kagawad (village councilor) from Barangay Toclong was accused of ordering to fetch the person with the viral disease from Makati City and bringing him back to their village using a government-owned ambulance.
The official purportedly asked permission from their chief to transport the COVID-19 positive individual back to their village.
Although the barangay captain thumbed down the transport request, the kagawad still pushed through with transporting the patient, Aquinaldo said.
“Kasalukuyang pina-iimbestigahan po natin ang kasong ito. At pagkatapos ng lockdown, mananagot ang mga dapat managot,” Aguinaldo said.
[Translation: We are having this case investigated. After the lockdown, those liable will be held be charged.]
As of Friday, the Philippines has 4,195 COVID-19 infections nationwide, with 221 deaths and 140 recoveries
