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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Daily drinking sessions: Bulacan residents bring concerns to DILG

Daily drinking sessions: Bulacan residents bring concerns to DILG

Published Dec 12, 2020 03:54 pm

Concerned citizens in Bulacan asked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday to castigate and impose the stiffest form of punishment on barangay officials and police officers who tolerate mass gatherings like Christmas parties this holiday season.

Although gatherings among immediate family members are allowed, alarmed residents report that regular drinking sprees involving neighbors and outsiders are common occurrences in some areas due to the laxity of law enforcement on quarantine protocols.

A resident of Marilao, Bulacan said that drinking binges in residential areas of Barangays Nagbalon and Poblacion occur almost daily with even some barangay officials part of the group.

“May lasing na konsehal ng barangay na kapatid ng dating mayor ng Marilao ang nag-imbita pa sa mga kainuman niya sa birthday party niya sa susunod na linggo sa isang bar dito kung saan malalaking personalidad pa daw ang dadalo) (A drunken barangay councilor whose brother is a former mayor of Marilao even invited his drinking buddies to his birthday celebration next week in a bar in the area where prominent personalities will also be present,’’ a Barangay Nagbalon resident said.

The local resident who requested anonymity said the almost daily drinking sessions, where quarantine protocols are violated, take place in a spacious area that once housed a private school.

“Minsan may kantahan pa sila na bawal (Sometimes there were singing sessions which is prohibited),’’ he added.

He emphasized that the laxity in the enforcement of quarantine protocols will surely lead to the spike of COVID-19 cases.

Earlier, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said sanctions in violation of quarantine guidelines depend on the ordinances of the LGUs, stressing that the statement of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año merely discourages the use of karaoke while encouraging the localities to pass ordinances that would penalize violators.

Malaya explained that if the said violation merits a warning or fine based on the ordinance of an LGU, then that is what should apply.

He noted that the LGUs or the barangays and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are mandated to enforce these laws.

Under recent inter-Agency task Force (IATF) regulations, Malaya said that only restaurants and not videoke or karaoke bars are allowed to operate.
However, the concerned citizens noted the DILG directive is useless when the police and barangay officials are the ones breaking the law or are too “tamad (lazy)’’ to enforce quarantine protocols.

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