Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday threatened to file appropriate charges against a former village official for breaching quarantine protocols.
Belmonte ordered a total lockdown on the street where the official resides.
The mayor, however, did not identify the person who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Belmonte said the former barangay councilor underwent swab tests when the official’s son tested positive for COVID-19 after a drinking session with another positive individual.
“The family has been ordered to undergo quarantine while waiting for the result of their swab tests, but (the official) failed to comply,” she added.
When the former barangay official’s swab test came back positive, Belmonte ordered the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), headed by Dr. Rolly Cruz, to immediately conduct contact tracing.
“After our contact tracing, we determined that 15 individuals who had close contact with (the official) need to undergo swab testing,” he said.
Cruz recommended that the street be placed on total lockdown so the CESU could closely monitor the condition of the 26 families living in the area.
The city government is preparing to file charges against the former barangay official and the son for violation of Ordinance No. SP-2958 S-2020 that prohibits breaching of quarantine protocols.
According to City Attorney Nino Casimiro, persons who break quarantine may be physically returned to quarantine by barangay and/or city officials, with police assistance, if necessary under the ordinance.