DILG files raps vs Olongapo City mayor for violations of IATF rules

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said it had filed complaints against Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. for alleged violations of protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

In a statement, DILG spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Paulino enforced quarantine rules that “repeatedly” violated the regulations of the IATF.

Malaya said they previously issued a show cause order against Paulino in April when people gathered, in violation of physical distancing rules, to receive cash aid during the first tranche of social amelioration program.

“In that instance, we already admonished him and warned him to fully comply with IATF regulations, otherwise we may be compelled to charge him,” he said.

Malaya also noted Paulino also issued Executive Order No. 54 series of 2020 last May 21 which allowed pillion riding on motorcycles. The executive order also required a special pass to permit pillion riding.

Subsequently, Paulino issued Executive Order No. 54-A last May 25 which suspended the implementation of pillion riding in the province.

But Malaya said the suspension order did not revoke the previous EO that allowed pillion riding.

“The issuance of EO 54-A does not extinguish the mayor’s liability for issuing EO 54 which violated a clear national policy prohibiting backriding (pillion riding). In fact, in saying that it merely suspended EO 54 ‘until such time’ that it is consonant with national rules proves that he did not completely abandon the previous EO,” Malaya said.

With this, the DILG filed cases against Paulino before the Office of the Ombudsman for violation of the Bayanihan Act, violation of the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and open disobedience under Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code.

READ: LGUs face show-cause order if ban on pillion-riding not implemented

In a statement to reporters, the public information office of Olongapo City government said they did not implement “Angkas Pass” or a pass that allows pillion riding.

“Respectfully, gusto lang po linawin na mula po nung kami ay sinabihan ng DILG hindi na po namin ipinatupad ang Angkas Pass. Mas mahalaga po, binawi rin po namin ang EO matapos po naming marinig ang address ng ating mahal na Pangulo nung June 5, 2020,” read the statement.

(Respectfully, we just want to clarify that after the DILG reprimanded us, we did not implement the Angkas Pass. Most importantly, we revoked the EO when we heard the President’s public address last June 5, 2020)

The local government was referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark during a public speech that he refused to exempt Cebu province from the government’s ban on motorcycle pillion riding.

The Olongapo City government, however, admitted having issued the EO as a solution for the lack of transportation modes during the strict enhanced community quarantine.

They explained that the EO allows pillion riding exclusively for family members of motorcycle riders.

For now, the city government said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint but they “welcome the opportunity to explain their side with the Ombudsman.”

/MUF