SAN JOSE, Antique – Cordoning with a barricade tape the house of a frontliner under quarantine in Barangay Calala, Hamtic, Antique was an act of discrimination and a form of harassment, according to Gov. Rhodora Cadiao.
A barricade tape is a brightly colored tape often incorporating a two-tone pattern of alternating yellow-black or red-white stripes or the words “Caution” or “Danger” in prominent lettering. It is used to warn or catch the attention of passersby of an area or situation containing a possible hazard. It acts as a minor impediment to prevent accidental entrance to that area or situation and as a result enhances general safety.
Cadiao called out the barangay captain of Calala, Silvestre Tolentino. She won’t tolerate this and similar acts, she stressed.
The frontliner who worked at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital was placed under strict home quarantine after undergoing a swab test on April 6. The result was yet to be released as this was being written.
Cadiao told Panay News she tasked the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force to conduct an investigation and for Mayor Julius Ronald “Junjun” Pacificador of Hamtic to file a report about the incident with her office for forwarding to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The barangay captain must be issued with a DILG show cause order so he could explain the use of the barricade tape, said Cadiao.
The barangay council of Calala may have been wary of the frontliner after 24 staff of the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
But according to Cadiao, healthcare frontliners should never be discriminated and should instead be regarded as heroes.
“Indi dapat pag-i-discriminate or i-harass ang aton frontliners. So, kadya nagapakita ang barangay captain sang anang ignorance,” said Cadiao.
Pacificador agreed with the governor.
“Dya tugruan naton kang sangka aksyon. Dapat wara dya ginahimo sa aton banwa, espesyalmente kang sangka opisyal. Ginpaagtunan run naton rugto kaina kang aton pulis para igabul-on ang yellow nga higot. Indi ko gid pag i-tolerar dya. Indi manami,” according to Pacificador.
PUNONG BARANGAY NAG-DEPENSA
Tolentino defended his action, saying he simply wanted to protect his constituents.
He said the driver and a helper of the frontliner kept going in and out of the house, and so were other family members.
Tolentino denied he was discriminating or harassing the frontliner, and sought for understanding./PN
