12 Quezon City barangay personnel axed for Christmas party

MANILA, Philippines — Several personnel of Barangay Batasan Hills in Quezon City were removed from their posts after they held a Christmas party that violated health protocols meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Barangay chairman Jojo Abad, in a Dec. 23 letter to Mayor Joy Belmonte, said the “termination of appointment” was due to “disrespect of office protocols and insubordination.”

Belmonte lauded Abad for his quick action regarding the party, which earlier drew criticism online over the failure of the barangay personnel to observe social distancing during the activity.

“May this serve as a lesson to other public servants in our city that we should always follow the rules. Let us serve as a good example to the public we serve,” she added.

While local guidelines allow holding events of up to 30 percent of the capacity of the venue, the city government stressed that these should be essential work-related gatherings such as conferences, trainings and workshops.

Minimum health standards must also be followed during these activities, including wearing of face masks and face shields and observing proper distancing.

Belmonte earlier appealed to residents to always follow health protocols following the recent surge in cases in Metro Manila.