COVID-19 discrimination: Cebu City gov’t to probe condo’s barring of 2 nurses

CEBU CITY–Mayor Edgar Labella has ordered an investigation of the management of a condominium building here for allegedly refusing entry to two nurses who were staying in one unit in the building.

Labella said the city legal office would investigate because the act of refusing entry to the nurses was tantamount to discrimination against health workers who are on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19.

Inquirer went to Horizons 101 Tower on General Maxilom Avenue to get comments from the condominium’s management.

After more than an hour, the security guards of the building said no one was authorized to comment on the issue.

One of the two nurses went to the mayor’s office on Thursday (April 6) to complain that she and her co-nurse were not allowed to enter the building last April 4 after they identified themselves as nurses.

While neither of the two was owner of the unit, the nurse, who asked not to be named, said the unit owner was a friend who was based in France and had allowed them to use the unit in the meantime since their homes were far from the hospital where they were working.

The two nurses were from one of the city’s upland villages, which was far from the city proper. It was difficult for them to get to the hospital after public transportation was suspended on March 28 when the city was placed under enhanced community quarantine.

When the nurses went to Horizons 101 tower last April 4, the nurse, who filed the complaint, said that they were stopped upon check-in after they identified themselves as nurses.

They were told to wait for several minutes. Later, they were told that they could not get inside the building.

Edited by TSB

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