MANILA – A watchdog group on Tuesday filed seven complaints against several government officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for supposed violations of COVID-19 protocols.
Among the officials named respondents in the complaints were presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, former Philippine National Chief Gen. Debold Sinas, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
In a statement, Pinoy Aksyon said it filed complaints against Roque for “violating” quarantine restrictions on non-essential travel when he went to Subic in July last year and in Boracay in February, and when he conducted a public meeting “without observing social distancing” in Cebu in November 2020.
“Clearly, the presidential spokesperson is not only making a mockery of legally mandated minimum public health standards in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He flaunts his power as if he is beyond the rule of law,” Pinoy Aksyon said.
The group also filed a complaint against Puyat for “violating quarantine protocols when she brought along [a] 6-year-old [girl] in a trip to Bohol despite the ban on children and minors from traveling.”
Likewise, a complaint was filed against Mayor Francis Zamora for allegedly violating quarantine protocols in Baguio City in June last year.
“Ito namang si Roque, Puyat and Mayor Zamora, pasyal ng pasyal habang ang masa ay nakukulong,” Pinoy Aksyon said in its statement.
Meanwhile, the watchdog said Rep. Zamora violated Food and Drug Administration Circular No. 2020-036 or the guidelines on the issuance of emergency use authorization for drugs and vaccines for COVID-19 when he got himself vaccinated with Sinopharm shots before it was approved for emergency use.
Aside from these officials, Pinoy Aksyon also filed cases against Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri, Abra Gov. Maria Jocelyn Bernas, Mayors Gerry Natanauan of Talisay, Batangas; Rolen Paulino Jr. of Olongapo City, and; Ernesto Escutin of Dao, Capiz for “various violations” of Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan Heal as One Act.
“Panahon na to hold our public officials to account. At least make our legal system work against impunity in whatever forms,” Pinoy Aksyon convenor BenCyrus Ellorin said.(©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
