Batangas townsfolk defy lockdown despite danger from Taal Volcano

Despite being given a four-hour window in which they could enter the 14-kilometer danger zone around Taal Volcano, some residents of San Nicolas, Batangas were seen entering the town outside the given 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. hours.

Henry Magsisi and his wife kept returning to their property outside the four-hour period to feed their livestock, according to a Saturday report by Athena Imperial on 24 Oras Weekend.

Though the land around Magsisi's house was surrounded by cracks from the volcanic activity, the pair were unafraid.

"Kawawa naman. Magaling nga ho't buhay pa. Hindi naman ho kami natatakot, nasanay na," Magsisi said.

"May tricycle naman po kung talagang makikita man namin ang ano niya makakaharurot naman ho kami," his wife added.

With the daylight came more residents of San Nicolas, prompting local officials to take charge of the situation.

"Para ho sila ay bumalik, siguradong bumalik ng bago mag alas diyes. Kaya ho namin kinukuha yung ID nila. Atsaka para ho may pagkakakilanlan kung sino po yung pumapasok dito sa ating bayan para ho magpakain sa kanilang mga kabuhayan," an officer explained.

Others, meanwhile, returned to drop off items they earlier retrieved due to the lack of space in evacuation centers.

While some residents were denied entry into town given that the 10 a.m. deadline was just moments away, others were allowed to enter.

However, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office took note of this and reminded local officials that they could be penalized for allowing entry during lockdown hours. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News