CH denies throwing party: Labella breaks protocol?

CEBU, Philippines —  Did Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella break his own executive order against mass gathering for allegedly throwing a post birthday party yesterday while the city is under general community quarantine?

The gathering, which was attended by Department of Health-7 regional director Dr. Jaime Bernadas, barangay captains, and supporters, was held at the social hall of Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

Councilor Raymond Garcia and MCWD chairman Joey Daluz denied the reported birthday party.

"Di na tinood. That's not true. There's no party whatsoever," Garcia said.

Daluz admitted there was a gathering but not a birthday celebration.  He said it was a meeting of barangay captains and Mayor’s Information and Liaison Officers (MILO).

“Wala uy (no party).That was a meeting of 80 barangay captains and Milo (Mayor’s Information and Liaison Officers (MILO) and naay gi-address si Dr. Bernadas,“  Daluz told The Freeman.

A copy of the logbook obtained by The Freeman also shows that most of those who attended yesterday were MILO and barangay officials. Daluz explained that the mayor hired a catering service since the meeting was scheduled at 10 a.m. and expected to finish late.

“Wala man mi nag-party. The mayor was there, Bernadas was there, nag meeting lang with the DOH and the leaders of the barangay and the mayor. Nag-cater lang, but it was not a party,” Daluz explained.

He, however, admitted the mayor was given a birthday cake as a surprise present by those who attended the meeting. Labella’s birthday was on May 22.

City administrator Atty. Floro Casas Jr., in a post on Facebook, also said the meeting was called to discuss the preparations for city’s transition from GCQ to modified GCQ after June 15.

"Mayor Labella and Dr. Bernadas addressed issues raised by attendees especially concerns on lifting of sitio lockdown, discharge of patients from Barangay Isolation Centers (BIC) and food assistance to Cebu City residents, among others,” Casas' post reads.

A reliable source told The Freeman the mayor also booked the venue for another party last night but was allegedly cancelled at the last minute after the supposed secret party at noon leaked to the media. The source said a councilor requested those who attended to refrain from posting pictures of the gathering on social media.

Daluz denied that another gathering was scheduled last night.

“Wala na. Kani ra. It is part of the mayor’s job to inform the leaders, barangay captains, and mga MILO kay sige man gud ug pangayog update ang mga Milo aning bugas, kung asa na’ng second wave unya ang kabahin sa mga lockdown areas,” said Daluz.

Section 14 of Labella’s EO 79 series of 2020 prohibits mass gathering such as, but not limited to, movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, community assemblies, cockpit operations and non-essential work gatherings.

However, gatherings for the provision of critical government services and authorized humanitarian activities shall be allowed, provided that prescribed minimum health standards are observed.

A video footage of yesterday’s gathering shows that social distancing was not observed while others were seen not wearing masks.  FPL (FREEMAN)