Treñas slams fellow mayor for sending back COVID-19 patient

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed dismay over the move of the local government of Pavia, Iloilo to transport a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient back to Jaro district.

In a radio interview on Monday, Treñas said the actions of Pavia Mayor Luigi Gorriceta, which were not anchored on any resolution of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF), posed more risk to the residents in Jaro district.

“Waay na sa resolution sang IATF nga kon taga–Pavia ka kag diri siya sa balay niya sa siyudad nag-positive, ibalik mo siya sa Pavia. There is no valid legal justification for that. Gindul-ong niya sa Buhang (Jaro) nga kadamo sang tawo, dako ang posibilidad nga malatnan ang mga tawo. Pero kon ato siya sa Pavia, ara lang siya sa isa ka balay and totally isolated,” he said.

The mayor was referring to WV Patient No. 48, a 77-year-old female residing in Pavia, Iloilo but with a permanent address in Jaro, Iloilo City.

According to Treñas, he agreed to transport the patient back to Iloilo City provided that the isolation facility prepared by the city government is in place.

“Nag-cooordinate kami hambal ko hulat-hulata kay ginapaubra ko pa ang St. Therese pero y*ta ya ngaa gindul-ong niya nga waay niya pa ko ginmangkot, ano na nga coordination man,” he lamented.

The city government is setting up the St. Therese MTC College Hospital as an isolation facility for COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic and with mild symptoms.

“I would suggest to Mayor Gorriceta to talk to his lawyers before he does anything. Bata ka pa, palihog mangkot ka sa Regional IATF. You have to consider yourself under notice nga may ara ka liabilities,” Treñas added.

In a press conference on Monday, the mayor reminded all local chief executives to follow the protocols of the IATF.

He stressed that the actions of the LGUs should be guided by the rules of the IATF.

“I am giving this friendly advice – please make sure you follow the rules and protocols of IATF. I would like to remind all local chief executives. We cannot just do anything na pagusto kita, we must follow the rules of IATF. Indi naton pwede dal-on ang isa ka tawo, without consent. We must respect human rights,” he said.