DILG directs Rizal town mayor to explain refusal of Muslim COVID-19 patients burial
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government will ask Rodriguez, Rizal (formerly Montalban) Mayor Dennis Hernandez to explain why it supposedly refused the burial of two Muslim Filipinos who died of COVID-19.
In a statement Thursday, the DILG said it will issue a show cause order against the town mayor “who allegedly refused the burial in their locality of two Muslim Filipinos who died of COVID-19.”
The department said this is “a clear defiance of government guidelines on burial amid the public health emergency situation in the country.”
The mayor reportedly did not sign the burial permit application of those who died and the families of the deceased had to bring the bodies to Muslim cemetery in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año pointed out that Metro Manila already has limited Muslim cemeteries.
“Let us not add to the grief of the bereaved who only wants to peacefully lay their loved ones to rest,” he said in Filipino.
Año said: “We are displeased with the disregard of the town mayor of Islamic traditions and I have already ordered our legal office to issue the show case order to the Mayor of Montalban, Rizal.”
“Imagine the inconvenience of transporting their dead all the way from Metro Mania to Rizal and passing through checkpoints only to be turned away and then travelling to Bulacan just to be able to bury their departed family member,” he added.
Guidelines
The DILG also noted that the Department of Health guidelines provide that burial of COVID-19 victims must be done within 12 hours, preferably through cremation but “to the most possible extent, be in accordance with the person’s religion or customs.”
It also pointed out that in the Islamic religion, the deceased should be buried in 24 hours.
“The Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula also said that ritual bathing of the body in accordance with Muslim rites may be done if the health authorities say it is safe, otherwise a Muslim doctor may perform tayammum or dry ablution to the dead prior to the placement inside a cadaver bag,” it added.
The DILG said that first victim passed away on March 22 but was buried almost two days later, while the second died on March 30.
The DILG and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos are conducting the investigation, as the commission received direct reports from the victims’ families. — Kristine Joy Patag
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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