
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas has approved the recommendation of the City Legal Office (CLO) imposing a penalty of community service to Cong. Julienne Baronda and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 6 director Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido who violated the ban on mass gatherings despite the city’s being under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Treñas enjoined the two officials to face their penalty “not limited to clean-up drives, tending of city plants, tree planting activities, community kitchen and other similar activities.”
“You have openly manifested your respective intentions and admissions that you have attended the said activity, and if and when sanctions are imposed, you are willing to undergo the same… In the spirit of fairness and equity, your compliance with the imposition of community service is sought,” Treñas said.
The city mayor tasked COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) Compliance Team head Nestor Canong to ensure the officials’ compliance.
To recall, Baronda and Candido were among those who attended the blessing and inauguration of the BFP substation in Alta Tierra Village, Jaro district on June 10.
Other attendees were 24 BFP personnel and the event’s other invited guest.
In approving the CLO’s recommendation, Treñas emphasized his office’s continuing commitment and obligation to protect and ensure the health and welfare of its inhabitants pursuant to the Local Government Code.
“Although we appreciate your zeal and enthusiasm to public service…please be advised that the health and safety of everyone is our highest priority, bearing in mind that until and unless we are finally free from the effects of COVID-19 in our communities, strict compliance with health protocols must always be observed,” Treñas emphasized.
Candido, who received Treñas’ letter yesterday morning, said on his part, he and his team may render the community service on Thursday.
Candido, however, is yet to disclose what specific community service they will be doing or for how many days.
However, he said they have three options – tree planting, community pantry or coastal clean-up.
Meanwhile, though Baronda earlier expressed to comply with the sanction, it was unclear when or how she will be rendering her community service./PN