Belmonte orders councilor: Explain protocol breach

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday issued a show-cause order to Councilor Franz Pumaren for alleged violation of health protocols during his food distribution activity, attended by thousands, in Barangay Old Balara on Tuesday.

The issuance of the show-cause order is part of the city government’s policy of going after violators of established health and safety protocols as well as holding them accountable for their actions regardless of status or position.

Pumaren, who also serves as majority floor leader in the city council, has already received a copy of the order, according to a statement from the city government.

Belmonte ordered the city legal department to conduct a probe and file the appropriate cases. She also directed the city’s epidemiology and surveillance unit to conduct COVID-19 testing among the participants of the activity.

A report from the Batasan police station said Pumaren supervised the distribution of around 300 sacks of rice in Old Balara that started at around 4 p.m.

The sacks, each containing five kilos of rice, were intended for about 6,000 residents.

The Batasan police station said it received a phone call from Pumaren’s staff at around 7 a.m. on Tuesday about their activity. At around 8:26 a.m., the councilor’s representative submitted a copy of their coordination letter with barangay secretary Gemma Babala.

Despite the prior notice, the station said barangay officials did not send their own personnel. This left only 11 police officers and 38 volunteers to manage the crowd.

The situation worsened in the evening when scattered rainshowers alarmed the crowd. As a result, social distancing protocols were no longer observed.

“The event ended at around 9 p.m., without any response from Barangay Old Balara,” the police report read.

Belmonte warned residents, including officials, that they will be prosecuted if they violate health regulations, which could endanger public safety.