8 barangay chiefs charged for super spreader events

MANILA, Philippines — A total of eight barangay captains have been charged over “super spreader” mass gatherings in different parts of the country, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said yesterday.

Romeo Rivera of Barangay 171, Caloocan; Ernan Perez of Barangay San Jose, Navotas; Facipico Jeronimo and Jaime Laurente of Barangays 181 and 182 of Tondo, Manila were charged with gross neglect of duty, negligence, serious misconduct and violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

Also charged were Marcial Lucas Palad of Barangay Matiktik in Norzagaray, Bulacan; Jason Talipan and Jimmy Solano of Barangay Balabag in Boracay Island and Barangay Sambiray in Malay, Aklan; and Jessica Cadungong of Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

Criminal charges were filed against Perez while the cases against Jeronimo, Laurente, Palad and Cadungong have been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.
Rivera has been placed on 60-day preventive suspension.

The DILG said the barangay officials face charges for their lax implementation of quarantine protocols that led to super spreader activities resulting in the transmission of COVID-19 in their communities.

The barangay captains were found to be negligent in their duties, which led to different super spreader events including recreational resort operations, boxing matches, drinking sprees and some river events.

In a statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said based on the investigation of the DILG and the Philippine National Police, “there were COVID-19 cases that resulted from these illegal activities. We cannot just let this slide because other barangays could follow suit.”

The charges come following President Duterte’s warning that he will have negligent barangay leaders arrested over mass gatherings in the country.

“Abiding by the President’s directive, eight (barangay captains) will be charged for failing to implement quarantine protocols leading to further COVID-19 transmissions in super spreader events,” Año said, adding that this is a reminder for barangay chiefs that the government is serious in its campaign to end the pandemic.