Fosano

Daughter of pantry fatality defends, thanks Angel Locsin for aid; Año orders probe

April 24, 2021 People's Tonight 471 views
Pila
Ill-fated Roland dela Cruz’s daughter Jennifer Fosano. Inset shows the crowd at Angel Locsin’s community pantry. Screen grab from Facebook

’SANA HINDI NA LANG SIYA PUMILA’

SANA hindi na lang siya pumila. Sana nagbabalot na lang siya sa baba.”

Thus said Jennifer Fosano, daughter of Rolando dela Cruz, the senior citizen who later died after falling unconscious while waiting in line at the community pantry organized by actress Angel Locsin on her birthday.

Fosano said she is not blaming Locsin for her family ‘s tragedy but wished that her father had opted to stay at home instead of lining up at the community pantry.

“Hindi naman po nya kasalanan. ‘Yung mga tao talaga ‘yung walang kontrol, walang disiplina po, eh. Salamat po kasi may nagbibigay sa ganyan pero salamat kasi ‘di niya kami pinabayaan sa ospital. Wala po kaming ginastos Hindi niya kasalanan, pero sinagot nya po lahat talaga. Kaya nagpapasalamat kami rin kay Angel Locsin. Siguro naman po, wala namang gustong may mangyari ‘to,” said Fosano.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año yesterday ordered an investigation into the liability of actress Locsin and barangay officials who organized a community pantry in Quezon City which came under fire for supposedly being a ‘superspreader’ while Metro Manila is still under a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) due to the COVID-19 virus.

In his directive to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Debold M. Sinas, the DILG chief ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and for the Q.C. Police District to ascertain the liability of the organizer and/or barangay officials in order to instill responsibility for future organizers of community pantries in the country.

The investigation will be conducted by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. and the QCPD under Brigadier Gen. Antonio C. Yarrra.

The initial QCPD investigation showed that the community pantry was sponsored by Ms. Locsin at no .36 Holy Spirit Drive corner Don Matias Street in Barangay Holy Spirit on Friday morning.

During the said activity, one of the supposed beneficiaries identified as vendor Ronaldo dela Cruz, a senior citizen, was waiting in line when he suddenly collapsed and fell unconscious.

The old man was taken to the East Avenue Medical Center where he was declared dead upon arrival by an attending physician around 9:20 in the morning due to cardiac arrest. Ms. Locsin apologized over the incident and vowed to shoulder the burial expenses of the dead man, his family said.

Yarra said they only became aware of the event because of the regular patrol operations in the area of the Holy Spirit Police-Community Precinct personnel led by Lieutenant George Palasca. He said that Palasca reported to the QCPD tactical operations center the presence of a huge number of people flocking to the area.

Personnel from the Q.C. Public Order Office led by Solomon Siva and the Q.C. Task Force Disiplina led by Rannie Ludovica arrived in the area to assist but by that time, the number of people have already swelled to more than 3,000. The line of people even reached up to Commonwealth Avenue prompting the QCPD Station 6 led by Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bilaro to rush to the site to help implement social distancing and other health protocols.

Yarra said that when asked, the Bgy. Holy Spirit chairman confirmed that they received a request-letter last April 21 from the office of Locsin regarding their planned activity.

To control the crowd, the organizers distributed ticket stubs.

The QCPD said that at around 9 a.m. Friday, there were already more than 3,000 people in the area. Around 12 noon, some 200 persons were still lining up with claim stubs while at 3 in the afternoon, there were some 70 who were with claim stubs.

The activity ended at 3:30 in the afternoon with no further untoward incident.

However, the incident prompted Q.C. Mayor Joy Belmonte to call for an emergency meeting with law enforcement and order officers in the city to prevent a repetition of the incident.

The DILG said that community pantry organizers should coordinate with barangay, LGU, and PNP officials to ensure that health and safety protocols are observed in the distribution of aid to those in need.

Año said that they are alarmed by an incident that happened in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City and that the organizers should have coordinated with the barangay, Quezon City Government, and the PNP so that there would be crowd control and no mass gathering will be held.

“It’s the organizer’s responsibility to impose the minimum health standards. That’s the primary reason why they have to coordinate with the LGUs local government units so that the latter can provide assistance,” he said.

He added that the barangay, LGUs, and PNP are ready to provide assistance at all times.

“Since somebody died, the PNP has to conduct an investigation. We cannot ascertain yet who could be liable until the completion of the investigation,” Año said.

The DILG secretary said the department supports and encourages the community pantries in the country. “The community pantry has been a traditional practice in our country as part of Bayanihan culture and spirit specially in the times of calamities and disasters. Iba iba lang ang pangalan. In the spirit of Bayanihan, many Filipinos have been doing selfless acts of kindness since last year,” he said.

Nonetheless, he said that the organizers must adhere to existing laws and local ordinances especially those issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“The PNP and/or local officials may just come in if there is any violation of law, if there are complaints from the community, or if the organizers seek their help. The LGUs, barangays and the PNP are ready to provide utmost assistance to ensure orderly distribution to the public,” he said.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday revealed that the city government was not advised regarding the community pantry that was organized by actress Locsin wherein the senior citizen died after collapsing while on queue.

In her statement, Belmonte said that the if they were advised regarding any plans, it would have surely made a difference in the outcome of Locsin’s event.

Locsin organized the community pantry as part of her birthday celebration yesterday.

Reports disclosed that 67-year old Rolando dela Cruz collapsed while he was on the line to get his share of food. He was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Belmonte, meanwhile, expressed her sympathy to the family of dela Cruz and vowed that the city government will shoulder the burial expenses and will extend financial assistance to his family.

The city mayor, however, appealed to the organizers of community pantry to coordinate first with the city government so that they will be given assistance with crowd control and health protocols.

“While Quezon City will continue to throw its full support behind community pantry initiatives, this unfortunate incident should serve as an important reminder for organizers to please be reminded of my appeal to coordinate all efforts with the barangay, and if necessary, with the LGU. The barangay and local government are here to assist with crowd control and health protocols, to ensure that untoward incidents are minimized,” Belmonte stressed.

“Advanced coordination will allow all stakeholders to be proactive, rather than reactive. Sadly, in this case, we were not advised regarding any plans, which would have surely made a difference in the outcome of today’s events,” she added.

“My dear Citizens, let us continue to be kind and compassionate, but practice foresight while doing both,” Belmonte said. By JUN LEGASPI, ALFRED DALIZON & CORY MARTINEZ

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