Delivery van carrying oxygen barred from exiting checkpoint in Quezon City

A delivery van carrying medical oxygen tanks was barred by a purok leader from exiting a checkpoint in Quezon City on Sunday.

Based on the video uploaded on Facebook by Gina Romanos, the supplier, she and her live-in partner already showed a quarantine pass and their Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Internal Revenue and mayor’s permits to be able to pass through the checkpoint in Zytec Riosa Compound in Barangay Pasong Tamo but Noel Talon still stopped them from leaving.

“‘Yong pasyente po namin tumawag, ‘yong nurse sabi ipa-urgent po at i-priority ang delivery sa kaniya kasi emergency na raw po dahil nahihirapan na po huminga,” she told GMA News Online.

However, Romanos said the purok leader told them that they are still not authorized to operate and to travel amid the enhanced community quarantine.

“Eh di mamatay,” Talon said in the video.

After more than an hour, Romanos said they were able to pass through with the help of some barangay officials.

She added they were able to successfully deliver the oxygen tank to the patient.

“May dumating na tiga barangay and noong nakita po nila ‘yong oxygen tank, sinabihan po ‘yong purok,” she said.

With the incident, Romanos said they will file respective charges against Talon.

“Kapag may nangyari sa pasyente, kami po ang madedemanda at sisisihin, walang magagawa ‘yong sorry niya sa amin kapag may namatay na tao,” she said.

“Magsasampa po kami ng kaso para maalis siya sa katungkulan kasi baka maulit na naman po sa amin at sa ibang tao.”

“Para aral na rin po ito sa mga nasa katungkulan na walang konsiderasyon at pagpapahalaga sa kapwa at buhay ng tao,” Romanos added.

Romanos and her family have been a supplier of medical oxygen tanks for 10 year already.

She said this was the first time they have encountered a situation like this.

“Hindi naman po dapat harangin ang medical oxygen kasi bawat tao ay may karapatang mabuhay,” Romanos said.

Purok leader only doing his job

Meanwhile, Talon said he only prevented them from exiting because he was only doing his job as a purok leader of the area.

“Nagpapatupad lang po kami ng ECQ lockdown and window time and as per Bayanihan Law signed by President Duterte, we are entitled to formulate our own policy to ensure our safety kasi nga po gate namin ‘yon,” he said.

Talon said as oxygen tank suppliers, they should have a permit to operate and should know how to handle ventilators.

“May dalang oxygen na ide-deliver daw pero kulob ang sasakyan nila at nakahiga (‘yong oxygen tank). Dapat po sa pagkakaalam ko, ‘pag ventilators, proper handling dapat upright at lahat ng magde-deliver ay with ID,” he said.

Talon also claimed there was really no patient in need of the oxygen tanks because there was no job order from the buyer.

“Alam na alam ko po na walang pasyenteng malalagay sa peligro kasi walang job order or text man lang ng nag-oorder.”

“Wala pong pasyente. Hindi po ako t*rantado para ‘di ko palabasin ka agad kung may pasyente,” he said. “‘Yong sinasabi nilang ‘mamamatay’ na sinabi ko ay ‘yong tangke ng oxygen.”

“Kaya lang po ako nakapagsalita ng ‘e di mamatay’ kasi alam na alam ko na walang pasyente,” Talon added.

Moreover, he claimed that the video was edited and made him look like he insulted the suppliers.

“Bandang huli, in-edit niya ‘yang video at pinalabas na binabastos ko,” he said.

Talon added he is ready to face the couple in court if he has to.

“Humingi naman ako ng pasyensya at wala namang perpektong tao para ‘di makagawa ng pagkakamalim,” he said.

"Hindi ko inaamin na mali ‘yong pagharang ko sa kaniya kasi sinusunod ko ang protocol. Dapat malaman kung legal o illegal ang dala. Maraming mapagsamantalang tao kaya dapat alamin ang lalabas at papasok.”—LDF, GMA News