Pastor jailed for defying ban on mass gathering

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A pastor in Altavas, Aklan was arrested for allegedly violating rules against mass gathering and social distancing amid the enhanced community quarantine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Ivan Yadao, 41, pastor of LifePoint Church, allegedly gathered around 20 members of his congregation at their chapel in Barangay Dalipdip around 4 p.m. of March 22, 2020.

Barangay Captain Edilberto Domingo went to the area to verify the report and witnessed that the group did not observe social distancing.

He also saw elderly and minors inside the hall.

Domingo said a verbal tussle ensued between him and Yadao.

It reached a point where the village head had to show the copy of an executive order on the conduct of mass gathering and observance of social distancing.

But the pastor grabbed the paper and threw it to the floor.

This prompted Domingo and several barangay tanods and barangay kagawads to arrest Yadao.

On March 15, Governor Florencio Miraflores signed Executive Order No. 19, “An Executive Order Restricting the Movement of the People and Regulating the Goods as well as Mandating Social Distancing Measures for the Management of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation in the Province of Aklan.”

Police Major Kenneth Paniza, Altavas police chief, said that even Mayor Denny Refol Jr. of Altavas has been reminding the public to observe social distancing amid the COVID-19 threat.

Yadao is now in police custody pending the filing of charges for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority or the Agents of Such Person) and Republic Act 11332 (An Act Providing Policies and Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Health Events of Public Health Concern, and Appropriating Funds Therefor, Repealing for the Purpose Act No. 3573, Otherwise Known as the “Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases”).