PNP ‘VIP’ officer breaches quarantine protocols in Samar

Borongan, Eastern Samar Mayor Jose Agda, reported another “VIP” police officer breached quarantine protocols and bypassed a quarantine checkpoint in the said town last Saturday.

The law enforcer was identified as Police Lt. Col. Joel Ana of the police Highway Patrol Group.

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“For us from Borongan, it is very unfortunate and insulting because we’ve been working together since Day One to follow protocol standards enforced in the city for everyone who enters and leaves,” Agda told ABS-CBN in Filipino.

The Mayor added Borongan City residents felt the cop insulted their sacrifices to abide by the quarantine rules in their area.

Agda said that he received information on June 13 that a “VIP” bypassed the city’s checkpoint. The “VIP” was in a van accompanied by escort vehicles.

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The Mayor then asked the city’s police chief to probe the incident. He found out the following morning that the said “VIP” was Ana.

The legal team of Borongan City is already studying the incident.

“Incidents like this are embarrassing and unfair to those from Borongan because they expect those in government to abide by the law. We can only defeat this pandemic if everyone cooperates,” Agda said in a mix of English and Filipino.

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Agda confirmed he knows Ana personally but has yet to receive an apology from him.

Also read: BFP staff, including COVID-positive employee held party in Boracay

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield commander, on Thursday told ABS-CBN that both the HPG and the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office are investigating the incident.

Eleazar confirmed that Ana is an HPG officer and was on the way home to Borongan City after delivering guns in Tacloban.

Ana submitted a report regarding the breach of protocols incident, saying he and his escorts slowed down but were not asked to pull over at the checkpoint, Eleazar added.

However, Eleazar insisted that when traffic permits it, police at the checkpoints must inspect all vehicles under modified checkpoint rules. Random inspections are only allowed if there are traffic jams in urban areas.

Early this month, Metro Manila Police Chief Debold Sinas sacked five other police officers who violated Baguio checkpoint rules along with San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, who they were escorting.

Sinas himself, along with 18 other officers, are facing criminal complaints about the mañanita birthday party held during May 8, which violated quarantine protocols.