BFP group had no business in Boracay

PANDEMIC IMPACT There is no off-peak season for tourism in Boracay until the coronavirus pandemic struck and restricted domestic and international travel starting March. The island’s hotels, resorts, restaurants and other businesses catering to tourists have either stopped or downscaled operations due to lack of visitors. —JOAN BONDOC

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Investigators of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) found no significant reason for 28 of its officials and personnel, including one who tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), to travel to Boracay Island last month.

“There is no document to show that there was a conference or meeting on June 12 to 14 that was attended by [the 28 BFP personnel],” Supt. Archie Andumang, chief of the BFP’s Internal Affairs Service and lead investigator, told the Inquirer.

Andumang, who was part of the eight-member investigating team that looked into the alleged quarantine violations of its personnel, said they were expected to submit their report to Director Jose Embang Jr., BFP chief, and to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday.

No commentHis team went to Iloilo City and Boracay Island to gather information and conduct interviews but Andumang declined to disclose other details of their findings and recommendations.Andumang said none of the 28 personnel submitted comments in reply to show cause orders seeking an explanation for their actions.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier relieved the 28 BFP personnel, including Senior Supt. Roderick Aguto, former BFP Western Visayas regional director, for alleged violation of health protocols for allowing the infected BFP employee to travel to Boracay while waiting for the result of her COVID-19 test.

SUNSET VIEW A woman enjoys Boracay’s famous sunset as few people visit Boracay due to health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The BFP personnel were also facing allegations of holding in Boracay a “despedida” (farewell) party for one of their officials even before the island was reopened to visitors from Western Visayas provinces.

The local government of Malay town in Aklan, which has jurisdiction over Boracay, said the BFP personnel were allowed on the island as they declared that they were attending a conference.

Task force meeting

A meeting of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force attended by Año and other officials was held on June 11, a day before the arrival of the BFP personnel.

The Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group said the BFP was not invited to and had not been part of the meeting. Residents and officials of Boracay Island and the rest of Malay town decried the violation of protocols which, they said, had seriously affected the reopening of the island to tourists in the region.

Fifty-five people, including hotel personnel and motorboat passengers and crew in Boracay, had to be placed on 14-day quarantine because of their exposure to the infected BFP personnel last month. They tested negative for the disease.

Business operators earlier said all BFP personnel liable for the violations, and not only the infected employee, should be held accountable for the breach.