DILG urges PNP to protect barangay officials from harassment of ECQ violators
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to protect barangay officials helping implement the enhanced community quarantine.
“Kami ay nakipag-ugnayan na rin sa Philippine National Police, nakiusap po kami at nagbigay ng direktiba si Secretary Eduardo Año sa Philippine National Police na bantayan o kaya naman ay suportahan ang ating mga barangay officials, protektahan sila sa mga ganitong klaseng insidente,” DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said at a Laging Handa press briefing.
This came after reports that some barangay officials were being harassed by residents in their respective areas.
In one incident, two barangay tanods were beaten up by an alleged quarantine violator and his relatives in Baliuag, Bulacan.
Earlier reports said Barangay Pinagbarilan deputy tanod Hilario Angeles lost a tooth and sustained various minor injuries on the body after he had scolded a quarantine violator in their area.
Malaya, meanwhile, urged the public to cooperate and support barangay officials who were also considered as frontliners during this period of health crisis.
“Nakikiusap po kami sa publiko na suportahan din natin ang ating mga barangay official at siguraduhin natin ‘yung kanilang kapakanan,” Malaya said. —AOL, GMA News
