Malabanias barangay chairman Rey “Jumong” Gueco. FB photograb
ANGELES CITY — Political harassment to malign and stain the reputation of barangay officials.
Thus, Malabanias barangay chairman Rey “Jumong” Gueco called the city government’s allegations that barangay officials were “profiteering” from “illegal” referrals of suspected Covid-19 cases to a private medical center in the city.
“Ang allegation nila is profiteering of (sic) the barangay officials. Sa amin po ay malinaw na political harassment ito. Ang dami na ng pagdedemanda ng Mayor na nag-umpisa sa basura, sa SAP, this is political harassment,” said Gueco.
On Sunday, the city information office press released that Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. had asked the Department of Health, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the city council to conduct a full-blown investigation on alleged referrals of suspected Covid-19 cases by barangay officials to a clinic not licensed to conduct community swab testing.
Gueco had a different take of the circumstances that led to the mayor’s action.
“Saturday, when I went home around 7 p.m. napansin ko maraming tao sa may Plaridel so I called the barangay official, purok leader Noel Borabien, and asked what happened, bakit maraming pulis diyan, bakit maraming tao,” he shared.
“Ang sabi nila sa akin, yung ka-barrio namin humingi ng tulong. Ang sabi nila pinatingin nila sa doctor sa San Rafael (Medical Center) ang anak nya and they found out positive siya sa Covid. Tinatanong ng nanay ng Covid patient ang pangako ng San Rafael na kukunin sila ng LGU ng Angeles dahil tatlong araw na hindi pa daw sila kinukuha,” furthered the barangay chair.
According to Gueco, the mother was told to wait for San Rafael to coordinate with the LGU but the mother kept insisting to look for a private swab testing center immediately as she had been waiting for three days already to supposedly be transported by the LGU from San Rafael hoping to be taken under its care.
Gueco said his wife Maricris helped the mother of the Covid-positive patient as they wanted to get tested for Covid immediately at a private swabbing center that offered a cheaper price.
“Naghahanap sila ng private swab testing center. Namamahalan sila sa P6,500 kaya ang ginawa ni Maricris ay nakiusap at humingi ng discount sa Jongno kaya ginawang P5,700 na lang,” said Gueco.
The said swabbing center is the Jongno East Medical Center Inc. from which Maricris asked for a discount on behalf of the mother.
“Humingi sila ng tulong, syempre tutulungan natin sila. Discount ‘yon, nasaan ang commission doon?” asked Gueco.
“This is character assassination and trial by publicity. If there is a probable cause because it is in flagrante delicto, bakit hindi ipinakulong? Pinalabas ang mga workers ng clinic, si Maricris hindi man ipinatawag. Bakit kailangan ng full-blown investigation eh hawak na nga kagabi,” he added.
“I challenge them to show the video footage while the Mayor and Ms. IC are interrogating the owner (of the hospital),” he dared.
Punto! tried to get the statement of Jongno East Medical Center to clarify their side of the issue. However, a woman representative of Jongno, who refused to be named, said they will release a statement as soon as they are able to talk to their lawyers.
