Quarantine violators in Negros, Samar to face charges

BACOLOD CITY—Unlike Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III who got away without any government censure for breaching strict quarantine protocols for people suspected of having the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), two persons being monitored for possible infection in Negros Oriental and Samar provinces will face charges for quarantine violations.

One person under monitoring (PUM) escaped from a quarantine center in Murcia town, Negros Occidental, on March 19 while another was caught on the same day roaming the streets and drinking the next day with his friends at Barangay Catorse De Agosto in Gandara town, Samar.

The number of quarantine violators has dismayed health officials, including Dumaguete City-based Dr. Kenneth Coo, national chair of the crisis preparedness committee of the Philippine College of Physicians, who broke down in tears on Wednesday when he appealed to officials to ensure that people stay at home.

The committee is on the front line in the fight against COVID-19 in Negros Oriental.

Coo spoke to members of the Dumaguete City Council, urging them to keep residents at home since health workers could not handle too many persons under investigation (PUIs) for the coronavirus.

Doctor’s plea“We ask our legislators to make the ‘stay home’ [rule] implementable. That is our only request. Let them stay home, please. We cannot do that (contain the spread of the disease) kung daghang (if there are just too many) PUIs; wala gyud mi’y mahimo (There is nothing we could do)!,” Co stressed.

Provincial legal officer Rayfrando Diaz said charges would “surely” be filed against the man who violated the quarantine. “We want to educate people that when they are considered PUMs, they must follow the quarantine rules.”—REPORTS FROM CARLA P. GOMEZ, JOEY GABIETA AND IRMA FAITH PAL