PSG mulls suing Covid-hit lawmaker
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) is considering filing a case against Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Party-list Rep. eric Go Yap for breaching Malacañang protocol by attending a meeting in the Palace on Saturday despite having symptoms for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). In a phone patch interview, PSG Commander Jesus Durante 3rd said he had ordered an investigation of the incident, which, according to him, “endangered” a lot of people at the Palace.
“The investigation is ongoing. I already formed a team, actually a task force from the team. If it’s really necessary to file a case against him, then we will,” he added.
Durante said Yap failed to reveal vital information when he went to Malacañang for a meeting on March 21, including having been exposed to infected persons and his having the symptoms of the disease.
Yap revealed on Wednesday he tested positive for Covid a few days after he attended the meeting.
He was also present at the special session of the House of Representatives that approved a measure granting President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to address the pandemic.
Durante said about 20 members of the PSG and the Office of the President were advised to quarantine themselves.
“I’m requiring them (PSG personnel), actually, to go on selfquarantine. Maymgameasures namankamidito like daily checkups for them. Pinupuntahansilang mga medical teams natin (We have measures in place like daily checkups for them. They are visited by our medical teams),” he added.
“It could reach up to 20 people kasikasamadito‘yung (including the) support personnel, eh. Because from there, pagdating pa lang, processing palang,pagdating
niya (when he arrived, he would have been processed, then) somebody would meet him, then assign him to a seat, search him. Itong mga waiters natin, then the staff na nandoon (We also have waiters and other staff) present at the meeting,” he said.
Durante reminded Malacañang visitors to cooperate with the PSG and be honest in disclosing information.
He said the Palace is restricting face-to-face visits with the President and limiting his meetings to teleconferencing.
Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said he, too, decided to be in self-quarantine because he had a second-level exposure to Yap.
“We, the other Cabinet members, are considered second-level exposure. While it is not part of the protocol, we opted to go on quarantine,” he told DZBB radio.
He said he would continue his job at the IATF through teleconferencing:“If our other members will go on quarantine, it is important that we still include them through video chat.”
“I decided to work from home because the problem here is there is public displeasure towards politicians who are having this type of exposure,” Nograles added.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo urged those who had physical contact with Yap to follow the 14-day self-quarantine protocol “for their protection.”
Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista and Peace Process Adviser Carlito Galvez announced they would be quarantined after being exposed to Yap.
In a text message, Avisado confirmed that he was with Yap at the meeting in Malacañang over the weekend, but said he had no direct contact with the congressman.
He said he would have to go “another round of self-quarantine as a precautionary measure.”
This would be Avisado’s second time to isolate himself this month due to exposure to a Covid patient.
The Budget chief had cut short his self-quarantine after learning that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd tested negative for Covid-19s.
Dominguez, who came in contact with Avisado in a meeting early this month, and other top government officials had selfquarantined since they were in an event that was attended by a person who was Covid-positive.
In separate text message, Bautista said he decided to go in on self-quarantine after being in the same room with Yap. But he noted that he was feeling “very good.”
“Gusto ko pumasok at magtrabaho (I want to go to work tomorrow), however, avoiding the spread of Covid-19 is my primary goal,” he said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año who was also at the Palace meeting assured there was social distancing and wearing of masks during the Palace meeting.