BACOLOD City- An executive assistant of Mayor Evelio Leonardia alleged that the Grupo Asenso Team failed to follow the health protocols being implemented when they entered the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) to fetch a newly appointed member of the city council.
The Office of the President (OP) appointed Pao Sy, as a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in this city on Feb. 9, following the death of his father Councilor Elmer Sy.
The newly appointed councilor, replaced the No. 12 vacant seat in the city council after she died at the age of 65 due to infection from coronavirus disease-2019 on June 17, last year.
According to Moises Dela Cruz, some personnel of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) assigned at the entrances of the BCGC claimed that the Grupo Asenso Team led by Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, [who is running for a mayoralty post against Leonardia ], together with Congressman Greg Gasataya, vice mayoral aspirant Atty. Caesar Distrito, Pao, and other party mates entered the building.
Upon entering the building, the person asked their BaC-Trac (Bacolod City COVID-19 Contact Tracing) and subject themselves for temperature scanning, but they refused, Dela Cruz added.
It learned that the city is implementing the City Ordinance (CO) No. 941, or BacTrac which aims to provide the implementation of the COVID-19(coronavirus disease-2019) contact tracing system (CCTS)of this City.
Dela Cruz said that the group told the POSO personnel that they will not stay longer at the BCGC because they will only pay the taxes on the second floor. But, the group proceeded at the second floor, he claimed.
To protect the employees and other people in the BCGC against COVID-19 Dela Cruz said that he confronted the group and asked them to follow the health protocols being implemented in the BCGC just like others did also.
He clarified that everybody is welcome to enter the BCGC regardless of their political color.
On their part, Distrito said, “Our companions were there ready to present our BacTrac identification, but we were not required when we entered the BCGC.” In fairness to the guards, they were courteous and our visit to the BCGC was smooth, except only when Dela Cruz, who suddenly and arrogantly confronted us when we are on our way to the stairs to go down,” he stressed.
Distrito said, when he (Dela Cruz) approached us about protocols, he was not properly wearing his mask also./PN
