Enforcers were only implementing laws
These regulations have been disseminated to all funeral parlors within Malabon, as well as in some funeral homes in the Camanava area
The Malabon City local government yesterday insisted Malabon Public Safety and Traffic Management Office (PSTMO) enforcers were only implementing ordinances related to curbing the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) when they apprehended a funeral hearse and issued it a citation ticket during a funeral procession from Barangay Tanza, Navotas City last Friday.
The incident immediately went viral on social media.
The local government extended its sympathies to the family of the deceased and apologized for the inconvenience it might have caused them, as it is in communication with the family.
The city pointed out the Inter-Agency Task Force prohibited any type of mass gathering, such as community assembly and non-essential work gathering, including burial, as stated in its Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines issued on 15 October 2020.
The Malabon City government took exception to the comments of some netizens who threatened the lives and security of its law enforcers who were only implementing the law.
The same guidelines also prohibited more than 10 people from visiting memorial parks and cemeteries.
On the other hand, Malabon City’s Ordinance 14-2020 prohibits mass gatherings under “General assemblies, outdoor events that attract large crowds and nonessential work-related gatherings.”
The ordinance also requires private companies to implement the city’s policy on physical distancing in their establishments, as it empowered the Malabon City Police, PSTMO and Barangay Special Task Forces to enforce the ordinance.
Also, the Malabon City Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (MCTF-MEID) had issued Resolution 20 on 07 January 2021 suspending all funeral proceedings.
These regulations have been disseminated to all funeral parlors within Malabon, as well as in some funeral homes in the Camanava area.
The Malabon City government also took exception to the comments of some netizens who threatened the lives and security of its law enforcers who were only implementing the law.