Barangay official faces charges for violating Health Protocols in Apayao

CAMP MAJOR BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – (June 10, 2021) – A barangay official of Brgy San Mariano, Sta Marcela, Apayao is now facing charges after being reported to the authorities for violating RA 11332 also known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.”

Based from the reports, PROCOR Regional Director PBGEN RONALD OLIVER LEE, identified the reported individual as Hon. Bobby Daquioag, 52 years old, Punong Barangay of San Mariano.

On June 7, 2021, Sta Marcela MPS received a call from the Municipal Mayor of Sta Marcela, Hon. Evelyn B. Martinez, regarding a complaint on an alleged violation of RA 11332 in a wedding celebration that transpired in the residence of Mr. Eddie Corpuz at Brgy San Mariano on May 28, 2021.

According to Sta Marcela MPS, Mayor Martinez submitted some pictures taken during the day of the occasion that shows the number of attendees were in violation to the standard health protocol.

Conducting further investigation, Sta Marcela MPS found witnesses confirming the occurrence of the wedding celebration that was attended by many visitors among whom is the Punong Barangay Daquioag.

In addition, Mayor Martinez, stated that she did not issue any clearance nor permit the conduct of the celebration as the province of Apayao is still under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). Instead, PB Daquioag allowed the celebration in his area of responsibility despite being knowledgeable of the prohibitions on the current quarantine classification.

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