Barangay Heads, Police Officers Asked To Be More Vigilant Versus Mass Gatherings

Following reports of mass gatherings in several areas in Metro Manila, there is a need for intense reporting from barangay captains, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday night, May 24.

In an interview with One News’ “The Chiefs” aired over Cignal / TV 5, MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos said barangay captains should monitor their areas of jurisdiction for mass gatherings.

Abalos issued the statement following reports that people have been gathering for a swim in rivers or resorts without observing health protocols.

Barangay leaders should keep an inventory of spaces in their communities that could be used for mass gatherings.

“Barangay captains should monitor and report if mass gatherings are happening in these areas,” Abalos said.

“Barangay captains should report daily or every three days. This is the only way to stay vigilant about these things,” he added.

He said Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año may issue show cause orders to barangay leaders.

Aside from barangay captains, police officers should also monitor their jurisdictions for possible “super spreader” gatherings.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered the police to be “extra vigilant” and be on the lookout for parties that violate health protocols.

In a statement, Eleazar reminded members of the 220,000-strong police force to be on alert and monitor their areas of command responsibility “to prevent mass gatherings and ensure the observance of minimum public health safety standards.”

“Closely coordinate with your local government units (LGUs), particularly the barangays, to effectively prevent any further mass gatherings and other quarantine violations,” the PNP chief added.

Eleazar said mass gatherings are still prohibited even if Metro Manila is now on general community quarantine or GCQ.

“Even though our COVID-19 cases have gone down in NCR (National Capital Region), this does not mean that we can be complacent because there is still the threat of COVID-19,” Eleazar stressed in Filipino.

The PNP chief’s order comes after 54 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 as they joined an improvised pool party and drinking binge in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon in Quezon City on May 9 to May 11. The pool party was later posted on social media.

Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon has been placed on lockdown since May 14 due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the area, the Quezon City local government said in a statement on Saturday, May 22.

The local government added that based on a report by the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU), 610 individuals were swabbed because of the pool party.

The city’s legal department has also issued a show cause order to the barangay chairperson of the area.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement on Saturday that all those who will be proven to have violated guidelines and ordinances, especially those caught drinking and doing karaoke will be issued ordinance violation receipts and may be charged as per Republic Act No. 11332 or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.”

Last May 9, almost 300 people were photographed swimming at the Gubat sa Ciudad Resort in Barangay 171 in violation of quarantine protocols. During that period, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal or NCR Plus were still under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Later that day, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan ordered the closure of the resort.

Malapitan said in Facebook post that the full force of the law would be imposed on the owner and operator of the resort, including those who went swimming and barangay officials who seemed to have neglected their duties.

The Caloocan City government on Wednesday, May 12, filed criminal complaints against Rodolfo de Guzman Jr. and Aleli de Guzman, president and general manager of the resort, respectively, for violations of RA 11332 and City Ordinance No. 0863 series of  2020, which mandates the strict implementation of social or physical distancing of people and other relevant measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The barangay chairman of Barangay 171 was also arrested because of the pool party, Año said in a public briefing with President Duterte on May 10.

As of Tuesday, May 25, 20 of the 207 people who attended the pool party and swabbed were found positive for COVID-19, the Caloocan City Public Information Office, told The Philippine STAR / OneNews.PH in a text message.

All those who tested positive were asymptomatic, the Caloocan PIO added. 

Rules on mass gatherings in NCR Plus

Since NCR Plus is under GCQ “with heightened restrictions” from May 15 to May 31,

gatherings outside of residences shall be prohibited except for those permitted in GCQ  as per the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines.

“Gatherings at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household shall likewise be prohibited. However, gatherings that are essential for the

provision of health services, government services, or humanitarian activities authorized by the appropriate government agency or instrumentality shall be allowed,”  the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases stated.

The following are also not allowed to operate in areas under GCQ:

• Entertainment venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas

• Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues

• Amusement parks or theme parks, fairs/perya, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides

• Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments, except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President for the purpose of raising revenue for the government

• Outdoor sports courts or venues for contact sports, scrimmages, games, or activities

Religious gatherings are allowed up to 30 percent capacity of the venues while the LGU may increase the capacity to 50 percent, as long as minimum health protocols are observed.

In the case of Metro Manila, presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced in a press briefing on Friday, May 21, that the Metro Manila mayors were allowed to increase the capacity of religious gatherings by up to 30 percent from the previous 10 percent.

Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed up to 30 percent of the venue capacity. The LGU may increase this to 50 percent as long as there is full compliance with the prescribed minimum public health standards for the duration of the activity.

In a May 10 statement, the Department of the Interior and Local Goverment warned that local chief executives (LCEs) who fail to enforce rules on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, or violate the prohibitions in the IATF guidelines will constitute non-cooperation, which is punishable under Section 9 paragraph (d) or (e) of RA 11332.

“Failure on the part of local officials to enforce IATF resolutions may lead to charges filed against them for dereliction of duty based on Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code,” the DILG said. “Administrative sanction may likewise be imposed on them under the Local Government Code.”

The DILG also urged to report erring LCEs who fail to enforce IATF rules.

Crossing borders

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri pushed the need to reinstate health protocols at the borders due to soaring COVID cases.

“I believe the surge is caused by the more contagious new variants that have entered the boundaries by the unabated and lax cross border travel between regions and flights from the major cities,” Zubiri said.

He said there is no minimum testing or quarantine done to passengers arriving by ship or plane from any part of the country, thus we will never know if those entering the provinces are clear for COVID-19.

“We need to reinstate these health protocols at the borders. Secondly, the authorities are very lax when it comes to the implementation of minimum health standards such as mandatory face masks and social distancing among the areas of concern,” said Zubiri.

He said many people either have no masks or are improperly wearing them and in barangays, crowds gather and children play without observing social distancing.