Laoag City mayor ordered: Explain quarantine breach

By Raymund Catindig

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte -- The Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a show cause order against Mayor Michael Keon here for reportedly organizing a Christmas party.
    DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya cited photos of the Christmas party that went viral.
    Malaya said Keon should explain why he should not be administratively held liable for violating health protocols.
    Christmas parties, which are considered non-essential activities, are prohibited under the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF.
    Laoag City reported a surge in COVID-19 cases anew, the city health office confirmed on Wednesday.
    The city health office said 22 butchers and a vegetable vendor from the public market as well as a returning resident are the new cases.
    Keon declared three sub-barangays on lockdown to facilitate contact tracing and prevent the spread of the virus.
    On Dec. 10, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc placed the city under a more relaxed modified general community quarantine as the number of cases dropped.
    However, the number of active cases increased from 19 to 40 as of Wednesday.