By Jennifer P. Rendon
Just like ordinary citizens in Iloilo City, concerned personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and lone district Rep. Julienne Baronda must render community service for violating the ban on mass gatherings in June 2021.
But Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido, BFP-6 regional director, was not surprised a bit by the recommendation of the Iloilo City Legal Office (ICLO).
Candido said his office offered that the entire BFP, not only those personnel who attended the June 10 inauguration of their substation in Jaro, should render community service.
Candido said he included the offer in his answer to the show cause order issued to his office.
After that, the ICLO sent a letter of inquiry on June 29. The following day, Candido responded reiterating his office’s willingness to undergo community service.
He even suggested they could do a clean-up drive, tending of trees, mangrove/tree planting, and community kitchen.
“It’s a voluntary proposal on our end. I am not allowed to choose. It’s up to the mayor to adopt all or to choose or he could impose other penalty,” Candido said.
He added that his personnel are volunteering themselves to perform community service to, once and for all, put an end to the issue.
Once the Iloilo City government decides on the kind of community service they would undertake, all personnel of the BFP-6 regional office and off-duty personnel of the BFP-Iloilo City stations would take part.
“We made our voluntary proposal para matapos na. Maski ano pa i-hambal namon, other people won’t understand,” he said.
Candido said that he and his personnel could even simultaneously do all activities that they are proposing.
Meanwhile, Candido said he is not privy about the case of Baronda who also attended the event.
“I won’t comment on her behalf. I’m not authorized and it’s not proper. In fact, I asked for an apology kay nadalahig sya because of us. If not for our invitation, she won’t be there,” he said.
‘SERVICE IS MY VICE’
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo, Baronda said she is willing to undergo community service which she described as her “vice.”
“l have yet to receive (legal order) but amu man lang na nahulat ta kun ano ang desisyon sang City Legal Office. As a law abiding citizen, we have to follow. Anytime, I’m always ready for that. Anyway, amu man na aton nga bisyo — community service. Para sa akon if amu na makapamaayo sa panan awan sang pumuluyo I will adhere to it.”
Even earlier, Baronda has issued an apology over what happened.
She explained, though, that the BFP called her up reminding her of their invitation and asked if she could join them, as Treñas could not grace the occasion.
“I assumed that prior authorization was secured as essential gatherings for provision of government services are allowed. Events like this may boost the morale of our public servants, like our firefighters, who have been tirelessly working for the people,” she said.
Baronda added that her office made it clear to the agency that health protocols should be strictly observed during the event.
“My advance party sent me pictures showing the physical arrangement with a few chairs, so I went. We had the ribbon cutting then I delivered a very brief message and left. It was a short program in an open space,” she said.
In the end, while they strictly observed health protocols, Baronda surmised that they should not have pushed through with it.
It can be noted that the Iloilo City Legal Office made the recommendation after it earlier said that the BFP higher office should take cognizance over the supposed violation of its personnel for violating the quarantine protocol.
Atty. Edgar Gil, Iloilo City legal officer, has earlier claimed that what happened during the June 10 BFP inauguration was in violation of Republic Act No.11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act).
But it was earlier pointed out that the event could be in violation of Section 4 of Executive Order No. 50-A, Series of 2021 (An Order Imposing Restrictions on Non-Essential Travel of Persons Within and Into Iloilo City and Other Health Intervention Measures to Curb the Sharp Rise of Covid-19 Cases), which states that “mass gatherings of any kind shall be prohibited until 11:59 p.m. of June 15, 2021.”
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued the order on June 3, 2021, as the city reverted to the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status.
The gathering in question was the blessing and inauguration ceremony of its substation in Alta Tierra Village in Jaro, Iloilo City.
The event also coincided with the activation of BFP – Iloilo City’s Emergency Medical Services and Fire Motorcycle Unit.
The event apparently did not sit well among Ilonggos as Treñas had earlier advocated against family members dining together.
On June 8, local officials ordered parents and guardians of eight cousins – six minors and two adults – to render community service.
It came after one of them uploaded a video while they went swimming at their garage. All of them are living under one roof.
But Candido early on has issued an apology over what happened.
Candido owned up to the blunder and admitted that he got short-sighted.
“There is no amount of explanation to justify what happened,” he said.
He admitted that he was invited to the event and so was Baronda.
