MANILA, Philippines — Officials of a homeowners’ association and a barangay in Marilao, Bulacan were accused of a slew of charges for allegedly forcing two minors out of a resident’s house because they were not recorded as members of his household, a supposed violation of the guidelines of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
Manuel Marinay on Sunday wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año seeking an investigation into the actions of the chairman of Barangay Saog, and the president of Villa Roma 3 Homeowners Association in Marilao, Bulacan.
The homeowner president allegedly barged inside their house at about 8PM of April 17 and forced the complainant’s 17-year-old nephew and 15-year-old grandchild out of his house because they were not registered as official residents there, and were told to go back to their own house in the next barangay.
A copy of Marinay’s letter to Año was shared to INQUIRER.net on Monday. The letter was also signed by his sister-in-law, who is the mother of his nephew.
“Nais ko lang pong bigyang pansin (ang) hindi makataong pagtrato sa aking pamangkin na nilantad nila sa kahihiyan nang itinaboy nila sa aming tahanan at pagkatapos ay tila ipinarada sa dis-oras ng gabi patungo sa kabilang barangay kung saan nakatira ang hipag ko,” he said.
(I just want to bring to your attention the inhumane treatment accorded to my nephew, who they had subjected to public disgrace when they forced him out of my house and short of paraded him late at night so they could go to the nearby village where my sister-in-law lives.)
According to Marinay, the barangay and homeowners association officials told him to drive away his nephews since they were not listed as official members of his household.
Marinay, however, insisted that the two minors were living in his house because he was their guardian. He further claimed the minors had been staying at his own house, with the consent of their parents, even before the quarantine was raised in Luzon.
Marinay said he will file charges of discrimination, child abuse, trespassing and abuse of authority against the two officials.
He further asked by what authority the barangay and subdivision officials have to barge inside his house to demand such action, and to determine who should live inside his residence. He stressed that the homeowners’ association also did not inform him of any supposed violation beforehand.
According to the complainant, the barangay officials even asked each member of his household to show a quarantine pass, even when only one member of a family is allowed to have it.
“Masakit mang aminin, pero wala silang paliwanag o sagot sa aking mga nilahad na tanong at lalo pa nilang iginiit na paalisin ang aking pamangkin at ang kanyang kasama (It hurts to admit but they don’t have an explanation or any answer to my questions. They even insisted that my nephew and his companion should be kicked out),” said Marinay.
To make matters worse, Marinay said, his nephew and grandson were then paraded in the street and escorted to the gate of the subdivision where officials of the other barangay were waiting to usher them to the house of his sister-in-law.
“They were paraded like common criminals,” Marinay told INQUIRER.net.
“Ang karanasang ito ay nagdulot ng takot at kahihiyan sa isipan ng aking pamangkin at apo. Tumanim sa kanilang isipan na sila ay may ginawang masama at takot dahil may pinaiiral na enhanced community quarantine bilang proteksyon sa coronavirus,” he explained.
(This experience has caused fear and embarrassment to my nephew and grandson. They thought that they did something wrong and they are afraid.)
Marinay then called for concerned authorities to investigate the incident and to impose sanctions on those responsible.
INQUIRER.net is still trying to contact the concerned barangay and the DILG, but they have yet to respond to queries at this time.