ILOILO City – For violating the ban on mass gatherings despite the city’s being under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), several officials here should render community service, according to the City Legal Office (CLO).
They attended the blessing and inauguration of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) substation in Alta Tierra Village, Jaro district on June 10, according to Atty. Edgardo Gil, city legal officer.
The recommended community service was “not limited to clean-up drives, tending of city plants, tree planting activities, community kitchen and other similar activities,” he added.
Those who participated in the activity included BFP Region 6 director Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido, 24 BFP personnel and Cong. Julienne Baronda, the event’s invited guest.
In a legal opinion submitted to Mayor Jerry Treñas, Gil cited the Omnibus Guidelines for Implementing Community Quarantine (as of May 20, 2021) in areas under MECQ which set restrictions applicable to the concerned individuals:
* movement of persons shall be limited to accessing goods and services from permitted establishments
* gathering outside residences shall be prohibited; however, gatherings that are essential for the provision of health services, government services or humanitarian activities authorized by appropriate government agencies or instrumentalities shall be allowed
According to Gil, for the opening of a new BFP substation to be deemed essential, “it is imperative for BFP Region 6 to present proof that the said activity was authorized either by the Iloilo City Government, or any government agency.”
“Unfortunately none was presented by the BFP in spite of the numerous opportunities given to it,” Gil said.
“While BFP Region 6 Director Candido mentioned in his letter that the said activities did not need the authorization of the DILG, just the same, it did not negate the fact that the authorization of Iloilo City Government was not secured prior to the conduct of said event,” he added.
Should there be proof submitted to the CLO that other violations were committed, a different penalty would be warranted, according to Gil.
The CLO also directed the COVID-19 Compliance Team to monitor the compliance of the persons concerned to the community service recommendation if approved by Treñas.
CANDIDO, BARONDA ‘READY’ TO FACE SANCTIONS
Candido, in an interview with Panay News, said he was ready to face appropriate sanctions.
In fact, he wrote the CLO on June 30 that he was willing to conduct community service such as mangrove planting, community pantry and coastal cleaning.
“What we have received was only a legal opinion. We are still waiting sa decision ni Mayor (Treñas),” Candido said.
“We will adopt because in our response letter nag-volunteer na kami sa BFP nga mag-undergo sang community service kay ti para matapos or whatever penalty nga gusto nila,” he added.
Although they were the only BFP personnel present in the activity, Candido said the entire BFP-6 would be joining the community service.
There were BFP staff who volunteered “kay ti iya man sang BFP event ato,” Candido added.
On the other hand, Baronda said “as a law-abiding citizen”, she is “always ready” to render community service, pointing out “amo man ‘na aton nga bisyo.”
“I have yet to receive (the recommendation) but amo man lang nahulat ta kon ano ang desisyon sang CLO… Para sa akon if amo na makapamaayo sa panan-awan sang mga pumoluyo, I will adhere to it,” Baronda said in an interview over DYOK Aksyon Radyo Iloilo./PN