Tondo street boxing, Baclaran fiesta under probe
PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Tuesday directed the Manila Police District to look into the possibility of filing charges against people for their involvement in the street boxing match in Tondo which grossly violated the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) rules.
MPD director Brigadier Gen. Leo M. Francisco had already filed charges against a barangay official and two other persons for violating guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for the street boxing event as well as illegal gambling and game-fixing.
The PNP chief also cited good police-community relations in discovering the boxing event in Tondo.
“Sa tingin ko kung patuloy na ganito kabilis ang aksyon ng ating mga kapulisan ay makukumbinse din tumigil ang mga pasimuno ng paglabag sa pandemic guidelines at minimum public health safety protocols dahil alam na nilang sa kulungan lang ang bagsak nila,” he said while noting that calls from concerned citizens triggered the police response.
“Nakakadismaya nga lang na sa Tondo, mismong ung opisyal ng barangay na dapat ay magpakita ng magandang example ang siyang nanguna pa sa mga pasaway na nag-organize ng potensyal na super spreader event,” he said.
Gen. Eleazar said that the local police should continue its investigation to identify and possibly file charges against the participants and spectators in the match because none of them observed COVID-19 pandemic guidelines and minimum health standards.
In Paranaque, Mayor Edwin Olivarez said that they will also conduct a parallel investigation on the mass gatherings for the feast of Sta. Rita de Cascia wherein young children were also seen participating in the celebration.
The minors were seen in the video licking each other faces’, while some of those watching were not wearing face masks and not observing social distancing.
Eleazar ordered Southern Police District (SPD) Director P/BGen. Jimili Macaraeg to investigate that health protocols were violated during the event in Baclaran.
Olivarez called on barangay captains to constantly remind and educate their constituents the importance of wearing of face mask, the observance of social distancing, and curfew. With Edd Reyes
