Taguig prohibits use of common areas in condos

April 20, 2020

Authorities on Monday said the city government of Taguig has an existing guideline prohibiting  use of common areas in condominiums as enhanced community quarantine continues.

In a statement, Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, said BGC Taguig Police Community Precinct Commander Major Joseph Austria went to the area after receiving reports people were gathering at the common pool of the condo.

This violates the enhanced community quarantine guidelines and of the Taguig City government.

“The last time we checked, there is no existing state or entity inside the Philippines that could craft and implement its own laws or guidelines especially pertaining to the COVID-19 safety measures,” he said.

“The ECQ guideline is plain and simple: Stay at home and observe social distancing when going out of your house-- anytime, anywhere, and regardless of your social status. Thus, that condo residential place and the people living there are not exempted,” he added.

Eleazar made the statement after a resident of Pacific Plaza located at BGC  posted a video online where Austria was  cautioning some residents  seen in the swimming area.

“Based on our initial investigation, there was already an existing guideline from the Taguig City government prohibiting the use of common areas in condos that include the swimming pool,” he said.

Eleazar said while Austria was talking to the condominium’s board president about the complaints they received, he spotted people gathering at the common area and the swimming pool which prompted him to caution them that they are violating the home quarantine and social distancing rules.

“There was no gun-pointing incident that happened,” Eleazar said. “But he (Austria) was asked to explain and the incident will be investigated as part of our SOP (standard operating procedures).”

In a separate statement, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief  Major General Debold Sinas said Austria acted after receiving complaint from the city hall.

But the condominium's property manager insisted that their premises are COVID-19 free and justified the use of their public amenities.

“He continued to talk harshly to Austria forcing the latter to just walk away to avoid further chaotic scene,” Sinas said.

"The policemen are merely acting on the complaint from the City Hall. The violators are not excused nor exempted from the national directive to use face masks, observe social distancing and the like," said Sinas.

"The policemen politely communicated their intention to inform the management and the residents to observe the law. They did not expect such a disrespectful treatment from the management,” he added.

Sinas said they are investigating the matter to determine the appropriate charges that may be filed against the management of the establishment for violating ECQ related laws.

The Taguig City government said the ECQ guidelines apply equally to all communities and urged their citizens to cooperate with the country’s frontliners. Ella Dionisio/DMS