Pool party event violated quarantine rules

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

 

The controversial pool party at a hotel in Iloilo City violated quarantine protocol guidelines.

This was the conclusion of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) investigating the pool party at “The Castle Hotel” located in Bonifacio Drive, City Proper district.

Police Colonel Eric Dampal, Iloilo City police chief, said investigators found that there was a clear 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 or COVID-19 in Iloilo City) when Wanderpool Party Bar at The Castle Hotel hosted a party on June 6, 2020.

Iloilo City was on modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) when the party was held.

The ICPO conducted the probe after videos and photos of the pool party went viral on social media last week.

These videos and photos have now been deleted but not before some netizens took a screen shot and downloaded them.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has also ordered the conduct of probe on the party by those “anak-mayaman” (rich kids).

“We will submit our investigation to Mayor Treñas. If the Iloilo City government would order us to pursue criminal charges against those responsible and those who participated in the party, we would do so,” Dampal said.

The ICPO recommended that Wanderpool Party Bar, which is owned by Carol Sanchez, be penalized under RO No. 2020-066.

“They admitted that there was indeed a pool party. In fact, their admission was made public through an official statement in their Facebook account,” Dampal said.

The Iloilo City police chief said the videos and photos uploaded on social media showed that physical distancing was not observed.

The ICPO is also exploring the idea of revoking the permit and shutting down the establishment.

On Tuesday, Treñas ordered ICPO to file charges against the “rich kids” who participated in the pool party amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Treñas said they should be held liable for violating quarantine protocols

 

PARTY DRUGS?

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 will also investigate the incident amid insinuations of possible proliferation of party drugs.

Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson, said they were surprised by the apparent violation of quarantine protocols.

Gorero also vowed that such event will not be tolerated.

In the investigation counducted by ICPO, while Sanchez admitted that the pool party indeed happened, she claimed it was supposed to be a private party and claimed to have no idea how the photos and videos were leaked.

Sanchez told investigators that she will not give or divulge any information on the event.

But if Treñas calls their attention, they will comply.

Meanwhile, in a talk with Sanchez and Axel Villarina, the hotel manager on July 6, Dampal said the two claimed that Wanderpool Bar operation has been suspended for now amid the investigation.

 

OFFICIAL STATEMENT 

On July 1, the management of Wanderpool Bar through Sanchez released an official statement relative to the incident.

“As a responsible businessman, I have always made it a point to observe the protocols set forth in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also disheartening, however, that videos of me and my closest friends, which was at MGCQ time before the Wanderpool Bar officially opened as our way of “celebrating” the birth of my new business after the marketing ads for Wanderpool Bar were shot, circulated in the social media.”

The management assured that they practiced all necessary protocols to ensure it is a COVID-19 safe zone when the “private event” was done.

The bar claimed they had temperature scanners at the entrance and all participants were sanitized upon entry.

“The said event was by invitation only and was not meant to be privy to the public,” the statement added.

The management explained that the videos, which were uploaded in the social media, were taken three weeks ago had nothing to do with the series of events that followed in the venue.

It was gathered that in its Facebook page, Wanderpool Bar had posted a “Rain or Shine” party with a P150 entrance fee scheduled on June 13.

“Hence, I am sincerely appealing to the public that this is not an act of nonchalance towards the crisis at hand nor was it an event to defy what is mandated by our good Mayor for it was a simple celebration of friends coming together for a new business venture,” the statement added.

“I sincerely apologize if it appeared as if the event was celebrated without care nor concern to the safety measures imposed by our good government. Rest assured all were safe on the event and neither was there in any form of self-compromise would render anyone in the party unsafe.”

The owner claimed that the party was only held once “and what transpired thereafter was not in the shared video.”

“I believed it would be unfair to those captured in the video to be tagged in an event that was not ours.”

The owner then apologized to her friends who were guests of the event.

The statement added that the owner and her friends allegedly gathered every weekend just to convene and find ways where they can shed off the negative stigma of the pandemic.

The owner has repeatedly asked for understanding for whatever issue their private celebration has caused.