BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Third District Board Member Andrew Montelibano denied claims of a police officer that he refused to undergo a thermal scan at a PNP-CHO checkpoint here as the city went on Day One of its community quarantine.
Montelibano told DNX he did not have an argument with any of the policemen who were manning the checkpoint at the Bacolod-San Carlos highway along Mansilingan village.
He pointed out that he first talked to a policeman who was wearing a blue gala uniform and told this cop that he was rushing to the Provincial Capitol to sign documents and attend meetings as part of preparations for their urgent discussions during the provincial board’s session today.
“I was flashing my hazard lights,” he said.
Vice-Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, sought for comment by DNX, confirmed that Montelibano did have meetings that day at the Capitol.
The first policeman then pointed Montelibano to a part of the highway for him to pass but a second one arrived and demanded that he show identification.
He said he showed this cop his gun license who then told him in Hiligaynon “I know who you are, mayor.”
To which he explained that he was rushing to the province but the second policeman, in a slighlty raised voice, told him in Hiligaynon “but this is Bacolod City.”
“I did not argue with him, I did not raise my voice,” Montelibano said.
The board member added he noticed the line of cars at the checkpoint was long and the personnel were “ill-equipped.”
“They only had one thermal scanner,” he said.
Montelibano wished the issue would not have happened as “we are now in a critical moment.”
