Davao de Oro intercepts DavOr residents defying regional lockdown
NABUNTURAN, Davao de Oro, March 27 (PIA) – Davao de Oro authorities intercepted some 13 residents of Mati City, Davao Oriental, who found a way to enter Monkayo from Agusan del Sur through the hills and creeks on Monday, March 23.
According to the police report, the 13 residents of Mati came from their work at JDL Tunnel located in Purok 3, Barangay Bayugan 3 in Rosario, Agusan del Sur, and was instructed by their employer on March 21, 2020 to go home to their families due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The report also stated that due to the regional lockdown, the group was stranded at the boundary of Agusan del Sur and Davao de Oro; however, on March 23, they entered the region through the creeks and hills in Monkayo, avoiding the military and police at the regional checkpoint.
The group rode center car motorcycles going to the Barangay Poblacion, Monkayo and from there, hired single motorcycles to transport them to Maco via the mountainous roads in Mawab.
The group was intercepted at 3:00 p.m. of the same day while waiting for a ride going to Davao Oriental. This happened after a concerned citizen informed the Maco Police Station that suspicious male persons were buying food and cigarettes in a mini store at Barangay Binuangan, Maco.
Alfonso Tabas Jr, spokesperson of Davao de Oro Inter Agency Task Force for COVID-19, said that the citizen actually mistaken them as members of the lawless criminal group, New People’s Army (NPA).
The report also revealed that coordination with the military was conducted for verification of the group’s personalities in consideration of the recent encounter between the government troops and the NPA in Mabini. The group was later cleared of the said allegation.
The Municipal Health Office of Maco also checked the physical conditions of the person and turned out to be healthy with no symptoms of COVID-19, the report said. The group was later sheltered at the evacuation center in Maco under the supervision of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
Meanwhile, Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy bared at Serbisyo Oro Mismo Radio, that he talked to Governor Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental about the incident.
“Nagkasinabot mi na i-turnover namo sa ilaha ang grupo, mag sunod sila sa health protocols like 14 days na quarantine,” Governor Uy said. (We agreed that we will turnover the group to them, and they (13 miners) will follow health protocols like the 14-day quarantine.)
On March 24, Barangay Captain Renerio Angsingco of Barangay Libudon, Mati fetched the group and properly identified them as among his residents. As a way of help to the miners, the local government unit of Maco gave them packs of relief goods as ‘pabaon.’
Governor Uy said that he and Governor Dayanghirang also decided that there will be no leeway to anyone, even if it is their residents, once they will again violate the regional lockdown.
“I told the barangay and purok officials to guard our own boundaries. Dili basta-basta na makasulod lang ang mga tao. Maghugot kita sa atong seguridad labi na sa barangay. The moment na naay dili taga ato na musulod, report dayon sa military na pinakaduol, which is naa sa atong checkpoint, or sa police sa pinakaduol na PNP station para ma-aksyonan dayon.” (I told the barangay and purok officials to guard our own boundaries. They should not just let any person to enter (their premises.) Let us strengthen our security, especially in the barangay. The moment, when we notice non-resident individuals entered our community, report it instantly to the nearest military, which is in our checkpoint, or the police in the nearest PNP station for immediate actions.)
The chief executive stressed that the violators, who will do this act again, will be arrested and cases may be filed against them. (PIA11, Michael Uy)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1037532