For 3rd time, DILG chief gets COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has tested positive for COVID-19 for the third time.

Año announced yesterday that he received his positive test result on Monday night after his close contacts contracted COVID-19.

“After several of my close contacts had tested positive, last night I also received a positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test result,” he said in a statement.

Año said he is currently asymptomatic and will continue to work while he is in isolation.

“I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boostered as soon as possible, and to continue following health protocols,” he added.

The head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government was one of the first government officials to test positive for COVID-19 during the outbreak in March 2020. He faced a more serious bout with COVID-19 in August of the same year.

Año went on a three-month medical leave in 2020 after two bouts with COVID-19 and heart surgery.

The work must go on

Work in government should continue despite the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 infections, President Duterte said, even as he claimed that the risk of catching the virus is part of the job of state workers.

“If you prohibit everybody from working, then the machinery of government will stop to grind. Then... what is the face of government at this time? We in the public (sector)... we do not want to do it, one is really for our safety, public health... Somebody has to communicate to the people what government is doing,” Duterte said during a pre-recorded public address aired Monday night.

“Now, if we get compromised, that’s part of the game. That’s our job. If we catch COVID, then so be it. That’s part of the job. Now, if I die, and then so be it,” he added.

Duterte said he and his officials would continue to appear before the public through television to provide information about the pandemic.

Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said government offices are following protocols to ensure the delivery of services despite the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. He noted that the Office of the President has issued a memorandum circular requiring heads of agencies and departments to make sure that public services won’t suffer despite the reduced on-site workforce.

“The President himself said government services must be unhampered, must not suffer, must continue in light of and especially because of the rising cases ng COVID-19,” Nograles said at a press briefing yesterday.

Under Memorandum Circular 94 issued by the Office of the President last Jan. 7, the reduction of on-site workforce below the minimum provided in the alert level system and the temporary closure of premises will be regarded as extreme measures reserved for situations where the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace has become overwhelming and unmanageable.

Ombudsman offices closed

Meanwhile, all offices of the Ombudsman in Quezon City will be closed until Jan. 19.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued a Memorandum Circular (MC) following reports from the Safety and Health Committee of the Office of the Ombudsman that showed a disturbing increase in the number of COVID-19 infected employees.

“In view of the need to strictly implement isolation and quarantine protocols order, and to arrest transmission of infection among employees in the office, all offices of the Ombudsman will be closed,” noted the MC signed by Martires.

“Unless otherwise directed, effective Jan. 20, 2022, a skeleton workforce shall report daily at the Public Assistance Bureau, Central Records Division, CREMEB (Case Records, Evaluation, Monitoring and Enforcement Bureau)-Luzon, CREMEB-MOLEO (Military and other Law Enforcement Offices), OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor) Records Office, Finance and Management Information Office, General Administrative Office, Management Information System Service and the Human Resource and Management Division.”

The filing of pleadings, motions, affidavits and other relevant documents before all offices of the OMB, Quezon City shall be deemed interrupted and the period of filing such shall begin to run on Jan. 20, 2022.

Applicants for OMB clearances may still deposit their applications at drop boxes located at the OMB, Quezon City entrance gate or submit their applications through electronic mail at [email protected]. – Alexis Romero, Rhodina Villanueva