No disciplinary action or an administrative case has been filed against the Pasay City councilor who was caught on video berating health workers after he found the city hall became COVID-19 testing venue, Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said Tuesday.
The said video has recently gone viral on social media, which showed furious Pasay city councilor Moti Arceo shouting at health workers conducting COVID-19 testing in the session hall.
According to Rubiano, the dispute between Arceo and the city health office has been fixed after the councilor apologized for the incident that happened last Tuesday.
“Naghingi siya ng sorry sa ginawang bad mouthing. Siya rin ay gagawa ng sulat para humingi ng paumanhin,” said Rubiano.
(He apologized for his bad-mouthing. He will also write a letter to apologize.)
Arceo will also write to the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, she added.
“Sa tingin ko kung dito lang, nag-accept nga ng apology ang mga health worker. Kung walang magrereklamo, walang magiging kaso,” Rubiano said.
(I think the health workers accepted his apology. If no one complains, there will be no case.)
Also read: Pasay councilor berates health workers conducting COVID-19 testing
According to Rubiano, the health team had a permit to conduct testing within the municipality, and the city health office complied with rules when it was implemented.
There was also a risk assessment before the testing.
“Though marami nagsasabi na ang session hall, hindi pag-aari ng nino man, nasa jurisdiction ‘yon ng city council. Ang memorandum hindi lahat makakatanggap that day kasi naka-address siya sa skeletal force,” said Rubiano.
(Although many say no one owns the session hall, it is within the jurisdiction of the city council. Not everyone received the memorandum that day because it was addressed to the skeletal force.)
Rubiano’s statement was in response to Arceo’s earlier statement that there was no consultation before the testing was conducted in the session hall.
The COVID-19 testing has been moved to the Mall of Asia Arena and Pasay City Complex.
“Nirespeto natin ang feelings ng ating mga konsehal… kaya inilipat ang venue, kinonsider namin ‘yong greater good, na huwag natin paapektuhan ang ating responsibilidad na mabigay ng services at ang tunay na kalaban ang COVID-19,” said the mayor.