DILG vows to jail local execs behind quarantine-passes-for-sale scheme

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Abusive local government officials found charging public for food stubs and gate passes during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon areas will be arrested and face sanctions, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday.

“Mahiya kayo sa mga balat ninyo. Sisiguraduhin ko na makukulong ang mga abusadong ‘yan na nakuha pang manloko ng mga kababayan nila sa panahon ng krisis na tulad nito. You are expected to help your people not cause them more sufferings,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

(You should be ashamed of yourselves. I will make sure that all of you abusive officials will be arrested especially those taking advantage of our countrymen during a crisis like this.)

The top DILG official said they have been receiving complaints that some barangay officials are charging their residents a certain fee for food stubs and gate passes during the quarantine period.

Año added that no one is exempted from the law as they will file administrative sanctions against barangay kagawad, chairmen and governors who are proven guilty of imposing payment from residents who are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus disease outbreak.

The DILG official also asked the public to report abusive local government officials through the DILG Emergency Operations Center hotlines 02-8876-3454 local 8806/8810.

Latest nationwide tally from the Philippine health department showed that 262 people have been infected with the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

Of the 262, the pandemic killed 19 Filipinos while 13 patients recovered from the disease.

Edited by JPV