Over religious procession: Baragay captain, 13 others face charges

CEBU, Philippines —  Charges have been filed against the barangay captain of Basak San Nicolas in Cebu City and 13 other individuals for violating quarantine protocols following a procession in one of the barangay’s sitios evening on Saturday, June 27.

"This morning, or the whole day, we will be filing the case against 14 personalities, including the barangay captain, for failure to supervise the implementation of the ECQ and negligence on his part," said Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro yesterday.

The police’s investigating team has recommended that Captain Norman Navarro, the organizer, and those who took part in the Sinulog dance at the end of the procession be charged for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, as well as the city’s rule against mass gathering.

Cebu City Police Office OIC Cydric Earl Tamayo said CCPO prepared the affidavits needed for the filing of the charges.

"Yup. We are preparing the affidavits for filing. Electronic filing… gina-send na sa email ka fiscal; daghan man ang page," Tamayo told The Freeman yesterday afternoon.

(Yes, we are preparing the affidavits for filing. Electronic filing sent via email to the fiscal. There are many pages.)

Also yesterday, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served a show cause order on Navarro and the other officials of the barangay for them to explain how the activity managed to get organized.

The other day, Mayor Edgardo Labella also directed Navarro to explain what happened.

The controversial procession, which ended with a Sinulog Dance, took place because it was the fiesta of sitio Alumnos.

Navarro said earlier he did not know about the dancing since the organizer only asked for the image of the Santo Niño to be brought around a block.

"Wala man gyud mi kalibutan. Ang ako  lang nahibaw-an nga i-mobile ilang santos kay nagsaulog sila sa ilang fiesta. Ipatuyok sa isa ka block," Navarro told reporters.

(I did not have any idea at all. What I knew was that they would bring the image because it was their fiesta. They would bring the image around a block.)

Last night, the Facebook page of Barangay Basak San Nicolas posted Navarro's official statement.

"WALAY PAGTUGOT na mag MOTORCADE, SINULOG DANCE PRESENTATION ug FIREWORKS. Ang atong gitugot kay MOBILE CARO ra UG WALAY TAWO NA MGA KUYOG, na ituyok ug kadali sa Sitio pareha atong gi tuyok sa Basilica ang Sto. Nin~o. Gibalibaran sad nato ang pag misa. Mobile ra ilang panaghid sa pagtuyok sa Santo sigon sa organizer sa Sitio Alumnos. Wala sila’y written permit ani tanan. Salamat," the statement reads.

Sitio Alumnos is located in the interior portion of Basak San Nicolas.

Ferro called on the barangay’s officials:

"As your Amigo cops, we are a bit frustrated with this of supervision by our barangay officials but rest assured to the barangay officials that when you asked me to give you police personnel inside the barangay areas, I have given you police officers to help, so please do your share. Magtinabangay ta (let’s help each other)," Ferro said.  JMO (FREEMAN)