I did not violate IATF guidelines – Fernando

BULACAN Gov. Cesar Fernando Ramirez, aka Daniel Fernando, on Wednesday said he did not violate any quarantine protocol or guidelines laid down by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases when he attempted to enter the Subic Bay Freeport early this month.

He was reacting to the story published by TheManilaTimes on Wednesday, May 13, authored by Dr. Dante Ang that he was turned away by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator and Chief Executive Officer

Wilma Eisma.

Fernando said the issue between Eisma and him revolved around an incident that took place on May 8 when

governor went to the freeport to bring assistance to a close relative undergoing dialysis.

“They have previously called me to help them in their dire situation and I decided to make the trip as they are not allowed to travel due to the lockdown. I also thought of it as an opportunity to visit and extend help to Bulakeños stranded in the area needing immediate help,” he said in a statement.

Upon arriving at Tipo Gate at the freeport, Fernando’s team was stopped.

The Bulacan governor requested to speak to Eisma to clarify the matter, and he respectfully asked her to allow them entry because it was the shortest route to their destination in Morong, Bataan.

The governor added that he explained to her that he had to go back to Bulacan on the same day for an important appointment.

Fernando said Eisma refused his request saying she needed to follow guidelines of the SBMA as well as quarantine rules.

Fernando then called Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the Covid response, to clarify if he violated quarantine protocol.

“I am fully aware that I did not violate any law in accordance with the Omnibus Guidelines of the Community Quarantine issued by the IATF. As an APOR (Authorized Person Outside of Residence), I can travel within and across areas under any form of community quarantine in order to do my duty and render humanitarian service,” the governor said.

Fernando said he did not fight Eisma’s decision. He added that the administrator even apologized for refusing them entry.

“Angik in asama lang pong lo ob koayp in ag-hint ayp aka ming ma hi git paakona…’ be a good example for others’ ehwalanamanako

nilalabag (I was only disappointed because we were made to wait for more than an hour and I was told that we should be a good example for others, but we did not do anything wrong) ” Fernando said.

Fernando lamented that the story based on Eisma’s narrative painted a different story.

“I categorically deny that, as the article mentioned, I “savaged” the administrator. Or that I said ,“Hindi mom an lam an gako binigyanng ga lang. Hindi nam anako ordinary on g tao ”( You did not even give me the respect due me. I am not an ordinary man). I recall that although I was deeply upset at the time, I never said anything to mean that I am entitled to special treatment just because I am a governor. What I reiterated to her was that as a local chief executive, I am permitted by law to travel to respond to constituents locked down in another province and seeking my help,” he said.

Fernando said the article saddened him because it placed him in a very bad light.

However, he expressed confidence that the people of Bulacan know him and would not judge him based on the article.

“I have spoken to Mr. Dante Ang and explained my side. I thank him for giving me the chance to clarify matters in the spirit of truth and fairness. Most of all, I owe this explanation to my fellow Bulakeños who have suffered enough from this pandemic and do not deserve this kind of untruthful information,” he said.