Barangay officials to face extortion raps if they sell quarantine passes

March 23, 2020

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday warned barangay officials they will face extortion charges if found that they are selling quarantine passes to their constituents.

“It is now allowed. It is clear on the advisory issued by (Interior) Secretary (Eduardo) Ano that quarantine passes should be free,” Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said in a radio interview.

“They should not ask for payment. All barangay captains in the whole country should know that by the time we acquire evidences we will file extortion against you,” he added.

Diño said they received around 200 complaints from the public that barangay captains in their area are asking money in exchange for quarantine passes.

“We are under state of calamity where we should give our service to the people and not be a burden for them and don’t make (quarantine passes) a business,” he said.

“We in the DILG are recording everything, especially those who are asking payment for quarantine pass or asking too many requirements like voter’s ID… some are even selling barangay ID in exchange for a quarantine pass,” he added.

The government official also warned barangay captains who will not make any action in their barangays to address COVID-19.

“We will file cases against you because in the first place, you are extended in your position up to December 2022… you should show to the public that you are worth it to be extended because if not maybe you will not reach 2022… you should not profit on your people and neglect them because the DILG and the public are watching,” Diño said. Ella Dionisio/DMS