Manila barangay shut down over boxing, bingo

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Isko Moreno has ordered a 24-hour shutdown of a barangay in Parola, Tondo after residents held a boxing match and a bingo game last Saturday despite the community quarantine.

In an executive order dated April 13, Moreno cited a Facebook video showing at least 100 residents of Barangay 20, Zone 2, District 1 watching a boxing match on the street.

“The video shows blatant violations of the enhanced community quarantine guidelines and social distancing protocols,” Moreno said.

The boxing match also posed a danger to the community as it increases the risk of exposure to coronavirus disease 2019, the mayor said.

The 24-hour shutdown, which started at 8 p.m. yesterday, prohibited residents from going outside their houses.

“Commercial, industrial, retail, institutional and other activities” in the barangay under lockdown were also suspended.

Health workers, police and military officers, and other frontline workers were exempted from the shutdown.

The city government of Manila also enforced stricter restrictions on people going to the Blumentritt market after retail stores in the Balintawak market in Quezon City were temporarily closed.

Starting today, there will only be three entry and exit points to the market, which will only be open from 5 a.m. to noon for Manila residents and from noon to 4 p.m. for non-Manila residents to address the influx of market goers.

Wholesale buyers are also only allowed in the market from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.