Cops file raps vs pool partygoers

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City Police Station 1 has already filed charges against 12 persons who allegedly participated in a pool party while the metropolis was under general community quarantine against COVID-19.

Police Major Francisco Paguia, ICPS1 chief, said they filed a case for violation of Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) morning of July 20, 2020 before the Iloilo City Prosecutors Office.

Paguia did not elaborate on the case but confirmed that the Wanderpool Bar owner, Carol Sanchez, was one of the respondents.

He said they would just file another case once they confirm the identities of other partygoers.

Earlier, Paguia said that four persons who were named in the controversial pool party have denied attending the party.

Three of them appeared before his office afternoon of Friday, July 17, to disprove reports of their attendance in the June 6 pool party event.

But while they did not attend the June 6 event, the three admitted attending another party on June 26 at the same venue.

The trio claimed that the video and pictures of the controversial June 6 pool party went viral on social media along with that of the June 26 event which they attended at the Wanderpool Bar located the Castle Hotel at Bonifacio Drive, City Proper, Iloilo City.

“We’ll just let the court decide on that,” Paguia said.

The RA 11332 charge is on top of the partygoers’ alleged violation of Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-066 (An Ordinance Implementing Physical Distancing as a Response Measure to Prevent the spread and/or local transmission of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (COVID-19) In Iloilo City).

The ordinance penalizes violators with a mere P500 fine.

It was also reported on Friday that the Iloilo City Business Permit and Licensing Office has revoked the business permit of Wanderpool Bar for alleged violation of quarantine protocols.