Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8)— The Interior Department will investigate the recent mass gatherings in Cebu City once the agency receives complete reports on the incident, Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Año assured that organizers of such events will be held accountable.
“Kung merong magbibigay sa akin ng kumpletong information, then we will conduct an investigation at sino man ‘yung responsible sa mga nag-organize ng ganung event, ‘yun ang pananagutan natin,” Año told Balitaan.
[Translation: If someone can give me complete information, then we will conduct an investigation and whoever is responsible for organizing such event will be held responsible.]
Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella earlier told CNN Philippines that the local government is looking into two separate mass gatherings in the area for alleged breach of COVID-19 health protocols. These are a hotel event pushing for the 2022 election bid of Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, and crowding at a bar in Barangay Kasambagan — both of which took place over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the DILG chief noted that the agency will also look into the food distribution activity in Quezon City sponsored by Councilor Franz Pumaren — an event that also allegedly led to protocol violations.
“’Yung report din dito kay Councilor Franz Pumaren, I’m also waiting for the report at re-reviewhin natin ‘yan at kung ano ang kaukulang aksyon na dapat gawin natin,” Año added.
[Translation: Also this report on Councilor Franz Pumaren, I’m also waiting for the report, and we will review this and the actions needed to be done.]
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte earlier issued a show-cause order to Pumaren to explain the supposed protocol violations in the food drive event in Barangay Old Balara. But the police had cleared Pumaren, saying he made “proper coordination” with concerned agencies for the community pantry.
Belmonte, for her part, believes the event turned out to be a “superspreader.”
“I do believe that was a superspreader event dahil noong nagbalik ang tao sa kanilang linya ay medyo dikit-dikit na, wala nang social distancing, crowded na (because when the residents went back to the line, there was no social distancing, it was already crowded,” Belmonte said in a briefing Tuesday.
She added the LGU has so far identified 86 positive cases among those who attended the event.
