CAPAS, Tarlac – Two employees were sacked by the Capas municipal government after they tried to smuggle boxes of liquor into the town on Wednesday, May 13.
Capas Mayor Rey Catacutan identified the two ‘job order’ employees as James Daniel Laxamana, 32 anyos, medic; and John Raven Yamzon Quizon, 23, mechanic. Both employees were able to utilize the Capas ambulance because of their positions in the LGU.
Catacutan said no one gave permission to both Laxamana and Quizon to use the ambulance.
Both employees were caught in the checkpoint of Brgy. San Roque, Magalang, Pampanga on Wednesday where the ambulance yielded boxes of liquor amid the liquor ban imposed by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Also confiscated is one .40 caliber pistol with ten ammos.
“Bawal ang pagbili, pag inom at pagbenta ng alak,” said Catacutan. “Sila po ay nakitaan ng kahong kahong alak na isinakay po sa ambulansiya ng munisipyo. Nais ko pong ipaalam na sila po ay naisyuhan na ng dismissal order,” said Catacutan.
Catacutan said the two were immediately sacked after he got hold of the report of the Magalang Police Station regarding the smuggle attempt.
“Last March 18, 2020, naglabas po ako ng isang executive order para sa liquor ban sa Capas. Bawal na bawal na bawal ang pag inom, pagbili at pagbenta ng alak. Ang prioridad po natin ay kalusugan, pagkain, sanitation,” said Catacutan.
“Bilang ama ng bayan ng Capas, nakakalungkot nadismaya po ako ng sobra sa pangyayaring ito. Habang ang mga frontliners ay nagtatrabaho, habang kami ay ikot ng ikot para gampanan ang mga untgkulin namin. At sa alam ko ay ginagawa namin ang aming nakakaya at nangyari ito.
“Bigla pong natabunan ang mga ginagawa ng mgsa frontliners at ng inyong lingcod at medical workers dahil lamang sa pangyayaring ito,” said Catacutan.
“Wala pong basbas, kautusan at otorisasyon mula sa munisipyo ang paggamit ng ambulansiya sa non-medical purpose,” said Catacutan. “Napaka unfair nito sa mga hardworking na empleyado pati na rin sa dapat serbisyuhan ng ambulansiya.
The mayor said the two workers will face legal action for violating the ECQ liguor ban.