Arrest made at Mandalagan subdivision
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

One of the Negrenses who was recently evacuated from Luzon after an enhanced community quarantine was declared escaped their mandatory 14-day quarantine at the Mambukal Mountain Resort in Murcia. Due to ongoing policies imposed amid concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, any individual arriving in the province from an area affected by the virus is considered a person under monitoring.
The individual in question was identified as Felix Alejo.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, said the evacuee was among those who boarded a bus from Bacolod-Silay Airport to the Murcia resort but, around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, he received a call from Negros Occidental provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, informing him Alejo had escaped.
Authorities were then alerted and police immediately conducted a manhunt operation.
Law enforcement was later informed that Alejo had been spotted and was hiding in his home at a subdivision in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mandalagan. Police, along with several provincial officials, visited his home and arrested him.
According to an investigation, prior to his escape, Alejo had asked a guard at Mambukal if the quarantine applied to those from Pampanga, as he believe it was only for those originating from the National Capital Region, when the guard reportedly was unable to give a clear answer, he left.
Baleros affirmed, anyone, regardless if they originated from Metro Manila or not, are considered under monitoring since there are strict quarantine controls in place across the province.
Alejo has since been returned to the quarantine facility and may face charges in violation of RA 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, as well as Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for resistance and disobedience to a person or agents of authority.
Meanwhile, after visiting his family in Barangay Mandalagan, Alejo’s family are also under monitoring after coming into close contact with him./DGB, WDJ