21 people demanding relief assistance detained
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-one people demanding relief assistance were apprehended yesterday in Quezon City for staging a rally amid the enhanced community quarantine.
Mayor Joy Belmonte asked the police to release the residents, who held a protest over the alleged lack of food packs in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa.
“There is continuous distribution of food packs throughout the city, both from the local government and the barangays to ensure that affected families are looked after during this crisis,” the local government said in a statement.
Belmonte ordered city hall personnel to review the list of beneficiaries in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa to ensure that nobody has been inadvertently left out.
The city government alleged that an individual misinformed the residents that food packs and cash would be distributed to them yesterday.
“After reaching the area, the residents discovered that there was no food or cash distribution,” the local government said. “They were allegedly instigated by unidentified personalities to hold a rally and claim that the local government has not distributed any food packs in the area. Upon further questioning however, some residents acknowledged that they did receive food packs.”
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said charges for violating quarantine protocols, resistance and disobedience to persons in authority would be filed against the protesters.
Belmonte appealed to the QCPD to release the demonstrators for humanitarian reasons, but with a warning that they would be punished if they hold another rally.
TV-5’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. is not in any way involved in the incident, saying its relief efforts have been peaceful and orderly.
NBI summons Vico
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday summoned Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto for possible violation of the Bayanihan Act.
NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that the bureau’s anti-graft division asked Sotto to explain why he should not be charged for violating quarantine guidelines, particularly the suspension of public transportation.
Lavin denied that the NBI is targeting Sotto.
“It’s not only Mayor Vico Sotto. There’s another local government official, a barangay captain in Talon Uno, Las Piñas,” Lavin said. “There’s no politics here.”
Sotto had allowed tricycles to transport health workers and patients to hospitals in Pasig.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said a local official could not be made accountable under the Bayanihan Act if the offense has been rectified. – With Neil Jayson Servallos, Robertzon Ramirez, Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Evelyn Macairan
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