COVID-infected BFP officer went to Boracay

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officer who tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) went to Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan last week for an unofficial business trip.

The local government of Malay confirmed that the BFP personnel went to Boracay Island on June 12, 2020 via Tabon-Tambisaan Ports.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Malay LGU said the BFP employee entered Boracay after citing that she needs to attend a certain conference. She also claimed in her port manifesto that they came from Kalibo, Aklan.

“An unfortunate event transpired on June 12, 2020 in which an employee of the Bureau of Fire Protection Region VI went to Boracay Island at around 5:00 p.m. via Tabon-Tambisaan Ports turned out positive for COVID-19,” the statement said.

The conference that the BFP personnel referred to was the meeting of national government officials in Boracay from June 11-12.

On June 13, the 26-year-old female BFP personnel tested positive for COVID-19 and was classified as WV Patient No. 144.

She departed Malay on June 13, based on the records of the Malay Municipal Tourism Office.

The local government of Malay condemned the “irresponsible” and “blatant” disregard of the quarantine protocols imposed in the locality.

“The BFP Personnel allegedly went on an unofficial business and violated quarantine protocols of both the municipality of Malay and Kalibo (the personnel’s place of origin). The local government unit of Malay strongly condemns this irresponsible and blatant disregard of quarantine protocols.”

According to Malay LGU, they had difficulty gathering information from the BFP.

“LGU Malay exhausted all means to mitigate the risk of spread of COVID-19. Contact tracing as well as the investigation of the series of events are being conducted through joint efforts of the Municipal Health Office, Municipal Tourism Office, and the Malay Police Station.”

The statement added that acting Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista is preparing to file cases against the “irresponsible personnel who violated the quarantine protocols.”

Establishments who accepted the unofficial business of said personnel will also be investigated for possible violations of the town’s executive orders.

Mayor Jerry Treñas also expressed his intent to file a complaint against BFP for the alleged breach of quarantine protocols and false declaration of the patient’s travel history.

“I am very disappointed. I am preparing a complaint because wala nila dayon na-inform about sa ila personnel,” Treñas said in a press conference on Monday.

The mayor also issued on Monday Executive Order (EO) No. 91 placing the BFP Regional and Iloilo City Central Offices under lockdown from June 15 to 18.

During the lockdown period, Iloilo City COVID-19 Task Force shall conduct decontamination and sanitation procedures and COVID-19 testing on all personnel who rendered active duty since June 9

Based on the patient’s travel history, she arrived in Iloilo City from Cebu last June 6. She was quarantined at Go Hotel-Iloilo City.

The health department said the patient falsely declared her travel history as she first claimed that she was a locally stranded individual (LSI).

She also failed to coordinate with the city government and was pulled out by one of her acquaintances for active duty at the BFP Regional and Iloilo City Central Office on June 9.

The BFP officer is asymptomatic and under facility quarantine.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo City fire station said it has coordinated with volunteer brigades in responding to fires while they are under lockdown.