DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. (PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday took a swipe at lawmakers criticizing the government's program to intensify the isolation of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms.
"They should grasp the pronouncement of the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 first. Hindi 'yung comment lang sila ng comment, hindi naman nila naintindihan yung issue (They should not make comments without understanding the issue)," Año said in a radio interview.
Citing Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, he said such measure is legal as the law specifies that collaboration with law enforcement is encouraged “to protect the people from public health threats”.
He said Section 4 of the said law states that one of its objectives is expanding collaboration beyond traditional public health partners such as law enforcement entities.
Año clarified that health officials would lead the search, and policemen would only assist them in transferring Covid-19 patients to isolation facilities.
"Hindi kasi puwede mag-home quarantine sila samantalang hindi naman pala capable o ready 'yung kanilang bahay para sa home quarantine (They should not be in a home quarantine if their house is not capable for it)," Año pointed out.
Año's remarks came after senators Franklin Drilon and Risa Hontiveros criticized the search for Covid-19 patients and warned of possible violation of rights of the citizens.
He stressed the urgency of the transfer to “Covid Ligtas Centers” or isolation hubs of Covid-19 patients under the government’s Oplan Kalinga program.
“This move is plainly to ensure that Covid-19 patients will be attended to and that they will not spread the virus to their families and the community,” Año said.
He added that Covid-19 patients will be given proper medical attention inside the “Ligtas Centers’’ which will decrease the chances of infecting other members of their family.
Año said the Covid-19 patients will be brought to “Ligtas Centers’’ as a precautionary measure to curtail the transmission of the virus.
While inside the center, Año assured these isolation centers are equipped to handle their medical needs as opposed to practicing home quarantine.
Año viewed home quarantine as a “contributory factor in the spread of the coronavirus in the community as some residences do not have dedicated areas to isolate their infected relatives, hence, leading to more cases’’.
He described the reports that the “government will do a house-to-house search to be led by the police or the military in police-type operations are fake news and is part of the disinformation.
Meanwhile, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Domingo Egon Cayosa, said under the law, authorities have the power to ensure quarantine and isolation of Covid-19 patients.
Cayosa said non-cooperation can be sanctioned by a fine of PHP20,000 to P50,000 and/or imprisonment of one to six months under RA 11332.
He said that patients who tested positive and are medically proven to be carriers of the virus and still refuse to be taken to Ligtas Centers are “actually committing a crime”.
"Under the warrantless arrest rule, puwede ho kayong arestuhin, pero hindi kayo dadalhin sa kulungan kasi mai-infect 'yung mga nandoon. Dadalhin kayo sa (you can be arrested but you will not be taken to jail because those detained there will be infected. You will be taken to) quarantine facilities," Cayosa said in a radio interview. (PNA)
