Lone worker at Ecija ecopark held for visitors’ breach of pandemic protocols

GENERAL TINIO, Nueva Ecija—A 61-year-old employee of a private ecological park here was arrested for alleged violation of quarantine protocols on Sunday (May 23), authorities said.

Col. Jaime Santos, Nueva Ecija police director, said police inspected Minalungao National Park at the village of Pias and found groups of people there.

The park reopened to the public on Sunday.

Santos said health protocols were breached in the area but the owner or operator was not around to explain the violations.

“The team advised them (people in the resort) to go home in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19 virus,” Santos said in a report.

Santos said a certain Romulo Hufano, the only resort employee in the area at the time of the inspection, was charged with violating Republic Act 11332, which required reporting of health concerns, like the breach of health protocols that police saw at the park.

The operation of all tourist destinations in this municipality remained suspended by a resolution of the municipal IATF, Santos said.

TSB