by Frances Pio
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Ang direktiba ng Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) sa pagsusuot ng face mask sa gitna ng COVID-19 pandemic ay mananaig sa anumang utos ng local government unit, ayon sa Malacañang.
Iginiit ng Malacañang nitong Martes matapos tanggalin ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Cebu ang mandatory na pagsusuot ng face mask sa mga open at outdoor spaces.
“We reiterate and support the legal opinion of the Justice Secretary that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution on the mandatory wearing of face masks shall prevail over the executive orders by local government units, including the one issued by the provincial government of Cebu,” sinabi ni acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar sa isang pahayag.
Nauna nang ipinunto ni Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra na ang mga direktiba ng IATF ay suportado ng sariling utos ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
“As between an executive order issued by the president, as manifested in resolutions issued by the IATF composed of alter egos of the president, on one hand, and executive orders issued by local government units, on the other hand, the former shall prevail,” ika ni Guevarra.
Inulit ni Andanar na ang utos ng Pangulo na ipagpatuloy ang pagsusuot ng face mask ay dapat sundin.