Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15)— The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now looking into the mass gatherings attended by some presidential aspirants in Batangas for possible health protocol violations.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año did not name names in his remarks at GoNegosyo’s Let’s Go Bakuna Town Hall on Friday. But presidential aspirants Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao had visited Batangas this week.
The DILG chief flagged the mass gatherings in the province as potential COVID-19 superspreader events.
“I have a report in Batangas just recently that a running politician for a national position went to Batangas and there was a sort of a violation on the provisions of mass gathering so I will be looking into that,” Año said.
Moreno led a gathering of local leaders at the Claro M. Recto Event Center in Lipa City Friday morning.
The event was hosted by one of the province’s well-known politicians, Senator Ralph Recto, who pledged to deliver votes to Moreno from vote-rich Batangas.
However, mass gatherings are still prohibited in Batangas since it is under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until October 31.
Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) and social events in venue establishments are also not allowed until further notice.
Responding to Año’s remarks, Moreno said: “They are entitled to do what they have to do. As far as Batangas is concerned, Senator Ralph Recto and the group and the leadership of the city government of Lipa, they have followed all the procedures.”
“All the health protocols as you can see in the spacing and so on and so forth,” he added.
As for Pacquiao, he visited Lipa City and Balayan town on Thursday, where he handed out cash and grocery items.
A video he posted on Friday also showed people gathering at a market in Lipa City without physical distancing.
The presidential aspirant has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The Department of Health is reminding local governments and politicians to follow health protocols during events.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is their responsibility to make sure election related activities do not become superspreader events.
“Naiintindihan natin na this is something that our (politicians) nagkakampanya na kailangan gawin pero kailangan po meron din tayong responsibilidad para sumunod tayo sa mga pamantayan para ‘di mapagmulan ng impeksyon ang mga ginagawang activities,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: We understand that politicians need to campaign, but they also have a responsibility to follow protocols so that these activities will not become a source of infections.]
