Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio warned violators of the city’s Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) that the city government will not shoulder their medical and even cremation bills if it is found out that they  got infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because they violated the city’s quarantine protocols.

“Kung maka-afford ka og palit og gasolina, maka-afford kag bayad sa imong hospital bill, maka-afford kag pag-cremate sa imong kaugalingon (If you can afford to buy gasoline you can also afford to pay your hospital bills and cremation),” she said.

The mayor made her threats during an interview over 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio Tuesday night.  She said that many sports utility vehicles (SUV) were seen roaming around the city despite the ECQ.

She said she already told the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) that the city government will not pay the medical expenses of COVID-19 patients if it is found out through contract tracing and interview that the patient got infected because they violated the city’s quarantine protocols.

The mayor said ECQ violators must ready at least P2 million to pay for their hospital treatment for COVID-19 even if they have Philhealth benefits because the city will not pay for them.  (Rommel F. Lopez)