Ex-village exec, son face raps for spreading virus

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will file charges against a former barangay official and his son who are accused of breaching quarantine protocols.

Based on a report received by Mayor Joy Belmonte, the son of the former councilor in Barangay Nayong Kanluran tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after he had drinks with another individual on the street where they both lived.

Belmonte said that as a result, the former village official, whom she did not identify, and other members of his family had to undergo swab testing.

“The family [was] ordered to undergo quarantine while waiting for the results of their swab tests but he failed to comply,” she added.

When the former village councilor was later found positive for COVID-19, the city government had to place the entire street under special concern lockdown, affecting 26 other families living there.

15 suspected cases

After the extensive contact tracing conducted by the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, 15 individuals were found to have been exposed to the former official and needed to undergo swab testing.

The city government said the former councilor violated City Ordinance No. SP-2958 S-2020 by mingling with his neighbors while he was waiting for the results of his swab test.

Nino Casimiro, city attorney, said the city government would hold the former barangay official and his son accountable for putting their entire community at risk.

He may also face appropriate charges under Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.