President Duterte highlights role of local officials in implementing health guidelines
President Rodrigo Roa Dutere reminded local officials Monday of their duties being persons of authority especially in enforcing the law in maintaining the current health protocols.
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President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency
Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the
Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on May 10, 2021. JOEY
DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
In
a public address, the President said mayors, municipal and barangay officials
are persons in authority and are mandated by the state to enforce the law with
the help of the police.
“So
ganoon ho ang takbo kaya ang barangay captain you are called upon and will be
held liable for the failure of implementing the law in your territory. Iyan ho
kasi magsabi bakit ibigay sa amin ‘yan? Anak ng --- hindi ninyo alam, iyan
‘yan,” he explained.
“That
is the reason why. You have to enforce the law ‘yong barangay captains sa iyong
lugar mo, you are the person in authority.”
Violently
confronting government officials could be a direct assault against persons in
authority, according to the President.
The
President previously instructed mayors and barangay officials to enforce strict
health guidelines particularly wearing face mask to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 in their jurisdictions, warning those who will not comply may face
criminal of administrative charges.
In
his report to the President, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo
AΓ±o said that from May 6 to 10, a total of 18,862 individuals violated the
health protocols.
“Patuloy
po nating ipapatupad ang inyong pag-uutos na mag-aresto po ng mga hindi po
sumunod sa pagsusuot ng face mask,” he told the President.
“Sa
mass gathering naman po, ipinatutupad natin din ang inyong ipinag-utos sa
pamamagitan ng Memo Circular 2021-015 na inilabas po ng DILG. Mayroon po tayong
280 violators.”
AΓ±o
also reported on the ongoing distribution of aid to low-income families and
individuals affected by quarantine restrictions in NCR Plus, saying a total of
P18.82 billion was distributed to 18,822,713 beneficiaries.
A
total of P9.2 billion was distributed in Metro Manila; Bulacan, P2.4 billion;
Cavite, P2.5 billion; Laguna, P2.5 billion; and Rizal, P1.9 billion. PND
