Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)— The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said it is seeking the imposition of disciplinary action against some 20 barangay (village) officials in Metro Manila for supposedly violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols.
In the agency’s recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman, DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño disclosed that the local officials were already given show cause orders following multiple violation complaints lodged against them.
“Patong-patong ang mga reklamo at sumbong na natanggap namin laban sa kanila kaya sa kabila ng kanilang sagot sa show cause order ay minabuti naming ipadala pa din sa Ombudsman ang mga ebidensyang aming nakalap,” Diño said in a statement.
[Translation: The complaints we’ve been receiving were already mounting. That’s why aside from their answers to the show cause orders, we also made it a point to send to the Ombudsman the evidence that we’ve collected.]
Among the alleged offenses include violations in physical distancing rules, illegal cockfighting, gambling, poor enforcement of lockdown protocols, as well as negligence and gross neglect of duty, the DILG official said.
Diño added that the barangay captains included in the complaint were from Manila, Caloocan City, Quezon City. Parañaque City, Mandaluyong City, Las Piñas, Makati City, Pasay City, Taguig City, Marikina City, and Muntinlupa City.
The department said reports of anomalies with regard to the government’s COVID-19 cash aid program have also been endorsed to appropriate authorities.
“We want to send a message sa mga pasaway na (to stubborn) barangay officials that the DILG will not tolerate any violation of ECQ protocols,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said in a statement, stressing that no official will be exempt from the laws.
The capital region saw an easing of lockdown measures in June, as the country aims to gradually reopen the economy amid the health crisis. Despite the development, residents are still encouraged to stay at home and follow minimum health protocols, to help curb the spread of the contagion.
