Lila mayor Arturo Jed Piollo bares that he is raising the issue about the entry of a non-resident into Lila town, which according to him is a violation of entry protocol implemented in the province.

Piollo made the declaration during an exclusive interview on Apr. 14, 2021 over NEWSMAKERS program hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.

The mayor narrated the details about his post addressed to the barangay captains of his town.

He chided a barangay captain who issued a barangay certification of residence to a person who is really from Quezon City.

The barangay certification was the reason the stranger from Quezon City was able to enter Lila town and live in the house owned by his sister’s husband who is a foreigner, the mayor said.

The mayor added that the person carried a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon entry to Bohol. The stranger gained entry into Lila because of the certification issued by the barangay. The certification said the stranger is a resident, even if he is not.

Admittedly, Piollo, who is a lawyer, said that the person has the Constitutional right to abode and cannot be evicted or sent back home.

Nonetheless, the mayor relayed to the stranger that the latter is not welcome in Lila.

Thus, the mayor is unable to order the stranger to return to his origin, as the latter has the right to abode.

The mayor talked to the barangay captain twice in private to ask him why he issued a certification to the stranger. The barangay captain said he issued the certification out of “kaikog” or out of courtesy to the foreigner who owns the property where the stranger currently stays.

The mayor made it clear to the barangay captain that this is not the time to extend courtesies or to show “kaikog” as it might only put the health condition of the people in jeopardy for disobeying the protocol.

BACKGROUND

Piollo explained the circumstance behind the issue during the interview.

The stranger from Quezom City arrived on Feb. 28, 2021 in Lila but the mayor just learned about the arrival of the non-resident only on Apr. 13, 2021.

The mayor said a barangay captain was provided a barangay certification to a person who is not from Lila.

Piollo said the person from Quezon City has a sister who is married to a foreigner. The foreigner is the owner of a property in Lila. All three (3): the  stranger, the stranger’s sister and the foreigners are not residents of Lila.

In fact, the stranger’s sister and the foreigner are living abroad, the mayor said.

The house is being maintained by a caretaker and the person from Quezon City arrived in town to kick out the caretaker, Piollo said. 

The mayor is not privy to the reason the caretaker was booted out.

The mayor said that the barangay captain issued a barangay certification out of “kaikog” to the foreigner who owns the property.

The mayor said that with the pandemic, there is no place to show “kaikog” to anyone especially if the action will result in letting people come into Lila from places with high number of Coronavirus disease (Covid) cases.

The person from Quezon City allegedly showed arrogance as he dealt with the people in the town including the mayor.

The stranger did not coordinate with the authorities in the barangay properly about his arrival and did not inform the caretaker.

As a result, the stranger was placed in the barangay quarantine facility for 2 hours, after which, the stranger was able to enter the house and boot out the caretaker.

The mayor said the stranger had the audacity to log a complaint to the Presidential Complaint Center as the latter complained about the quarantine facility not having a generator as there was a power interruption and asked for some fast food, during his brief stay in the quarantine facility.

The mayor explained to the stranger that the town does not provide meals and does not have any standby power to provide in case of power interruptions in the facilities.

ARROGANCE

The stranger displayed arrogance when he met the mayor, according to Piollo.

The stranger, Piollo said, refuses to join any barangay-related activity.

Piollo bared that there is a violation of protocol as he explores the possibility of filing charges against the stranger.