Barangay officials who fail to restrict unvaccinated may also be punished —DILG

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday said that barangay officials who could not restrict unvaccinated people may also be punished by law.

“‘Yung mga government officials po ay madami tayong pwedeng i-file diyan, madaming kasong pwedeng i-file—administratibo, kriminal, civil cases,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(We can file many cases against them—administrative, criminal, civil cases.)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered barangay officials to direct persons yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to stay home amid the spike in infections.

On the other hand, the DILG said that barangay officials arresting unvaccinated individuals who insist on going out would only be a “last resort” and would be conducted “within the bounds of the law.”

“Alam kong napapagod na rin sila pero ayon talaga ang tawag ng ating tungkulin. Kailangan nating gawin ‘yon para maisalba ang ating bansa sa mas mabigat ng problema dahil sa COVID,” Malaya said.

(I know they are getting tired too but this is really the call of our duty. We need to do that to save our country from a more serious problem because of COVID-19.)

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said that unvaccinated persons who leave their homes without a valid reason under the ordinances of their local government units will only be arrested if they resist or fight with the persons in authority.

Malaya added that there are no more barangay officials in Metro Manila who refuse to get vaccinated, but many of them still remain unvaccinated in provinces due to fear of zombie apocalypse and their religious beliefs.

The Metro Manila Council, composed of the 17 NCR mayors, earlier approved that unvaccinated residents in Metro Manila will be ordered to stay at home unless they are buying and accessing essential goods and services while the National Capital Region is under Alert Level 3.

Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 3 until January 15.

The government also placed its adjacent provinces Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal under Alert Level 3 from January 3 until January 15, while Laguna is under the same alert level starting January 7 until January 15.

Fourteen more cities and provinces were placed under Alert Level 3 starting January 9 until 15.

Under Alert Level 3, several establishments are allowed to operate at 30% indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50% outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated. — BM, GMA News