BARANGAY OFFICIALS, POLICE IN TROUBLE OVER MOTORCADE

DAVAO CITY: Some barangay (village) officials in Mati City, Davao Oriental are being investigated for alleged violation of standard health protocols over a motorcade for the fiesta in Barangay Dahican in the city on Saturday, May 15, morning. A video was uploaded in social media showing a live image of young individuals onboard a pick-up truck of the Mati police with several motorcycles behind them. Dahican village chief Nestor Escasinas, in an interview, admitted the motorcade was part of the celebration of their Araw ng Barangay Dahican. Escasinas said the motorcade was supposed to be a simple reminder to their barangay constituents of their 53rd founding anniversary. He added he only invited barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to join the motorcade. In fact, after the motorcade, Escasinas said, they conducted a clean-up drive and distributed some food packs to the participants before heading home. He added the Mati police offered their vehicle to be used during the motorcade. Apart from the motorcade, according to him, among the planned activities for their Araw ng Barangay were banca racing and cycling events slated on May 15. The cycling event, however, was canceled after the Mati Incident Management Team (IMT) raised concerns over Covid-19 clustering in the city the past two weeks. The city also scrapped all other applications for holding of events including those that were already approved. Mayor Michelle Rabat on Sunday confirmed the police officer who allowed the use of the pick-up truck was already removed from his post. City Ordinance 427 or the City of Mati’s Disiplina Panahon sa Pandemya Ordinance mandates the approval of the mayor upon the recommendation of the IMT for any events that will be held in the City of Mati.