Año warns of jail time for local execs violating quarantine guidelines

MANILA, Philippines — Local government leaders must follow national government guidelines on enhanced community quarantine or face jail time, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday.

Año said local executives who will violate the guidelines will also be subjected to administration suspension proceedings if they will implement new guidelines or violate the quarantine protocols.

“Ipatatawag natin yung barangay captains dito, sasabihin na ito ang bawal ito ang pwedeng gawin at ito ang hindi pwedeng gawin. Kapag may sumuway diyan talaga i-su-suspinde na natin ‘yan,” Año told radio station dzBB.

(We will call the barangay captains and lecture them on what to do and what to not do. If any they will not follow, we will suspend them.)

“Nagbigay ng instruction si pangulo sakin, sinabi na kung sino pa matigas na ulo diyan na local chief executive sabihin mo kaagad sa akin at gusto ko ipakulong yan,” he added.

(The President instructed me to give him the names of the stubborn local chief who will face detention.)

Año reiterated to barangay officials that police officers will supervise checkpoints in their respective areas.

EDV