FIVE police officers who formed part of San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora's group that traveled to Baguio City on June 5 were ordered relieved Monday, June 8.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas said he ordered the transfer of the five police officers to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit while an investigation is being conducted on the alleged violation of minimum health and safety protocols against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
"I will not condone any wrongdoing of our police officers in the implementation of the community quarantine protocols, if held responsible," Sinas said. The five officers were not identified.
Sinas himself is facing charges of violating quarantine protocols during his birthday celebration last month.
"We, as law enforcers, are bound to respect the existing rules and regulations anywhere in the Philippines. The safety of the people remains our top priority in these trying times," Sinas said.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said he will also ask San Juan City Police Office Chief Jaime Santos to explain.
"I will not give my decision because I have to hear anong ginawa niya after that and then in the course of investigation, ano ang degree of liability niya," Gamboa said.
On Sunday, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong revealed that Zamora's group, on board six vehicles in a convoy, arrived at the Kennon Road quarantine checkpoint around 2:30 p.m. on June 5.
"When his group was flagged down for inspection, the driver of the lead vehicle just slowed down a bit, and merely told the checkpoint personnel that he was part of a convoy, pointing out the vehicles tailing his police car, then forthwith sped off with the mayor's entourage in tow," said Magalong in a Facebook post.
The group then proceeded to the Baguio Country Club (BCC) without undergoing triage health examination which is mandatory for visitors as a measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus or Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.
Baguio City Police Office traffic operations center personnel tailed the convoy to BCC and required the group to present a medical health clearance, but not one could present such a document.
The City Health Service Office had immediately set up a triage facility in the BCC "purposely to ensure that containment and isolation, if needed, were done."
Magalong said Zamora informed him of the incident later that night.
"To his credit, Mayor Zamora took the effort to inform me about this incident and apologized for the serious lapse on the part of his police escorting officer. He profusely expressed deep regrets that while asleep in his car at the time, the PNP escort leading his convoy mindlessly took it on his own to ignore what has long been a standard border protection measure prescribed not only in his but our own city," Magalong said in a social media post.
Complaints against the five police officers have been lodged with concerned police officials including PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Camilo Cascolan, Santos, and Baguio City Police Director Allen Rae Co.
Magalong, however, urged the public to avoid prejudging Zamora and his group.
"We fully understand the public's displeasure over the reported breach of health protocols by Mayor Zamora and his group. We share everyone's reaction that an incident of this nature, done in utter violation of border controls, took place at all. Let us however bear in mind that the full appreciation of facts and the proper evaluation of evidence at hand are best left to our courts or the rightful quasi-judicial bodies. This is how justice works," the mayor said in another social media post.
Gamboa has apologized to Magalong for the actions of his men.
"Magalong is even charging members of the police force just to emphasize the point and ako mismo I texted him, I personally apologized also if there are actuations of the PNP that are not or contradictory to their quarantine protocols," he said.
"I also instructed the director for operations to disseminate that the PNP where you are assigned should always observed the appropriate protocols kasi alam naman natin that the burden of controlling the spread of the virus is upon the shoulders of the LGU and siyempre 'yung interest nila is to protect their constituents that's why inencourage ko lahat ng PNP in whatever capacity that you may be in but if you're are confronted with local quarantine protocols then we should abide by it," he added. (VoxPop Philippines)