A BARANGAY official in Sta. Marcela, Apayao is facing charges for violation of government health protocols after allegedly allowing a wedding party in his neighborhood wherein guests including him failing to observe social distancing rules as well as the polcicy on the wearing of face masks and face shields, Cordillera Police Regional Office director, Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said Thursday.

Charged with violation of Republic Act 11332 otherwise known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act was Bobby Daquioag, 52, chairman of Bgy. San Mariano, Sta. Marcela.

Lee sakd the Sta. Marcela Municipal Police Station on Tuesday received a call from Mayor Evelyn Martinez regarding a complaint for violation of RA 11332 committed during a wedding feast at the house of a Bgy. San Mariano resident identified as Eddie Corpuz.

The mayor also submitted some pictures taken during the wedding party which showed a number of attendees violating standard health protocols.

Lee said that acting on the information from the mayor, the local police investigated the complaint and found out from many witnesses that indeed, there was a wedding in their neighborhood which was attended by many visitors, one of them their chairman.

The Cordillera police director said that Mayor Martinez testified she did not issue any clearance nor permit for the conduct of the wedding party as Apayao is still under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine.

The mayor said that instead, it was Daquioag who allowed the celebration in his area of responsibility despite being knowledgeable on the prohibitions on the current quarantine classification.

Under Executive Order No. 18 series of 2021 signed by the Provincial Governor of Apayao, the province was placed under the MECQ classification from May 10-31, 2021 and the status extended until June 15, 2021, which means that the conduct of gathering outside residence is prohibited, Lee said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon