CRIMINAL charges were filed yesterday by the Department of Interior and Local Government against officials of the Gubat sa Ciudad Resort that illegally resumed operations last Sunday, attracting nearly 500 customers and compromising health protocols.
During the Laging Handa press briefing, DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the charges were referred by the city government to the Caloocan City Prosecutors Office.
Malaya said the cases filed were for violation of Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) and Caloocan City Ordinance No. 0863 that calls for strict implementation of social distancing.
Named respondents were Rodolfo De Guzman Jr. and Aleli Mansano, president and general manager, respectively, of the resort, and eight other resort officials.
Malaya said the owner of the resort, who was not identified, should face the charges. There are reports the owner could not be found by authorities.
If the respondents do not answer the complaint, Malaya said the prosecutors may refer the complaint to the court, which could issue arrest warrants.
Malaya also said there were 496 guests who went to the resort last Sunday based on the logbook and guest stubs provided by the resort. He said many of the guests did not give complete information, adding that only 232 listed their phone numbers on the logbook or guest stubs.
Malaya said that of those who listed their cell phone numbers, 180 have been contacted by contact tracers and 72 have been subjected to swab tests. The results of the tests were not yet available.
Malaya said those who did not list their phone numbers and those who cannot be reached by contact tracers should come out.
“This is for you and your family’s welfare,” Malaya told them.
Malaya also said that prevention is the “weakest link” in the fight against COVID-19, contradicting the statement of contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong last May 4 that contact tracing remains the “weakest link among the pillars” in the fight against COVID-19, noting the country’s low contact tracing efficiency ratio.
“We in the DILG never believed that our contact tracing is the weakest link. Actually, we disagree….We think the weakest link is prevention,” Malaya said, adding that many have been apprehended by the police for violation of minimum health standards.
“In the detection (strategy) including contact tracing, we are in a good position,” said Malaya. “I would disagree to claims that contact tracing is our weakest link. If we are to look for a weakest link, it would be prevention, and in prevention, we need the cooperation of everyone to use face mask and face shield, to practice distancing and to follow all quarantine protocols set by the Department of Health.”
Meanwhile, over 4,000 residents of Quezon City have been apprehended for violating health protocols, according to QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra.
The apprehended individuals were brought to the Quezon City Memorial Circle for proper documentation and lectured on ordinances pertaining to COVID-19 health protocols.
Last March, more than 1,700 were also apprehended for violating health protocols in the city. — With Noel Talacay
