Pres. Duterte Reacts to Mass Gatherings Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
DUTERTE – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest the barangay captains who allow mass gatherings.
There are still threats of COVID-19 in most countries across the globe including the Philippines. There are still new cases of the disease daily and new variants of this coronavirus were also recorded.
It has been a year now since the Philippines recorded its first case of COVID-19. Community quarantine measures are still up in the entire nation as it fights the spread of the disease.
Recently, another spike in the cases of COVID-19 was recorded and it prompted the national government to place Metro Manila and its nearby provinces under the strictest quarantine measure among the four (4) levels – the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Currently, the said areas which are collectively called as the NCR Plus are under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened measures. The government urges the citizens to continue practicing the health protocols.
visit: Malacañang Announces Quarantine Measure, Restrictions For NCR Plus
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the people are advised to stay at home as much as possible. The government also plead to the citizens to not hold big gatherings amid the pandemic to prevent the further spread of the disease.
However, there are still reports about gatherings and guests testing positive on the disease. One of the incident was in Quezon City where a pool party reportedly took place. Fifty-four people who attended the party tested positive for coronavirus.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed that the people did not heed his plea and the COVID-19 pandemic may not end if people keep disobeying. He ordered the PNP to arrest the barangay captains who allow mass gatherings.
In his latest national address, Pres. Duterte expressed that barangay captains who allow mass gatherings are committing a crime of “dereliction of duty” under the Revised Penal Code. Based on the report, speaking to the PNP, he ordered the police to arrest the barangay captain first and investigate him at the station.
Currently, the entire PH is still under community quarantine measures. The vaccination program has rolled out.
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