ILOILO – Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Jeff Albania of San Dionisio town publicly apologized for breaking quarantine protocols designed to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Wala ko intention nga maghalit sa banwa. Ang akon lang nga makabulig ako sa akon isigkatawo,” said Albania over radio station DYRI RMN Iloilo yesterday.
Albania admitted having facilitated the return to San Dionisio of a 33-year-old resident of Barangay Pase who got stranded in Iloilo City for two months due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“The resident had not eaten since Sunday, according to a barangay kagawad of Pase who sought my help after having been approached by the resident’s distressed mother,” said Albania.
The stranded resident, a construction worker, was fetched from Iloilo City early morning on May 4.
“Sa akon mga pumoluyo sa San Dionisio kag sa amon mayor (Larry Villanueva), ginabaton ko nga nakasala ako. Patawaron kontani ako. Ang akon tuyo indi halit kundi magbulig. Nagapangayo gid ako sang pasensya kag pag-intindi,” said Albania.
Villanueva ordered an investigation. He was worried that the quarantine breach would result to the COVID-19 virus entering San Dionisio.
Aside from Albania, the barangay kagawad of Pase would also be probed for violating Executive Order No. 110 of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. imposing an enhanced community quarantine, said the mayor.
Instead of proceeding to San Dionio’s designated quarantine area upon their return from Iloilo City, Albania, the barangay kagawad and the fetched resident returned to their respective houses, said the mayor.
Villanueva considered Iloilo City a high-risk area for having COVID-19 cases.
Worse, he added, Albania attended Monday’s session of the SB.
The mayor said he had ordered the disinfection of the SB session hall and the suspension of the SB session until the test result of the fetched Barangay Pase resident is released.
The resident is currently at the municipality’s quarantine facility.
Albania and the barangay kagawad were told to undergo voluntary home quarantine./PN
