Cebu City village chief under investigation anew over fiesta

CEBU, Philippines —   Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has reminded everyone that there are “no sacred cows” and whoever violates health and quarantine protocols will have to face the consequences of their actions.

 This was his reaction to a religious gathering in Sitio Lower San Roque in Barangay Calamba on Sunday that resulted in some merry-making and seemingly a violation of social distancing.

“Sa tinuod, wala man ko kahinumdum sa among discussion sa convergence nga naay allowed nga word nga gathering nga expanded, wala gyud na. Second, with respect to gathering like wedding, burial, baptismal and the likes, klaro kaayo nga naay mi dihay mga requirements. Di lang ta mo-conclude kung nakabasa ba ang mga barangay officials, o kung kinsay mga nitan-aw but definitely, we are a government of laws, and of rules, so as the acting mayor, EOC knows, the police know: No sacred cow,” said Rama.

While all the efforts to bring down the COVID-19 cases are paying off, Rama said he is also expecting people to stretch their patience and understand the situation.

“We need to bring the people to understand, the rule is utong! Utong! Naa man gyud ng mga fiesta fiesta pero wa na nagpasabot nga fiesta, nga fiesta nga makalimtan ang EO, ang ordinance. It laid very clearly, ang mahimo, ang di mahimo,” said Rama.

Rama is leaving it all to the Emergency Operation Center and the Cebu City Police Office regarding the investigation and recommendations.

Jennifer Perez, vice president of San Roque chapel, in a separate interview, said they asked permission from Calamba barangay captain Victor Quijano Jr. but only for the novena and motorcade within the sitio.

Perez said the drum and bugle corps was just a last-minute addition and they also did not expect the influx of people outside the chapel.

The Freeman tried to reach Quijano but to no avail.

Interestingly, last year, Quijano was also issued a show-cause order by the Department of the Interior and Local Government-7 also for a fiesta-related gathering.

EOC’s deputy chief implementer and Councilor Joel Garganera said no mass and no foot procession have been allowed yet even under the general community quarantine.

“Ang pagpananghid, layo kaayog kalahian sa actual. Station 6 commander, Maj. Regidor and DILG, they are on top of it. In fact, gahapon giimbestigar dayon nila. Giimbestigar nilag apil ang barangay captain ang presidente sa maong kapilya, unya of course and head sa drum and buggle, mao toy nakadag hugyaw. I’m waiting for the result of the investigation, but for sure nasayod na ang hingtungdan, ang hepe, and barangay captain, as well as ang presidente pud sa maong kapilya,” said Garganera.

CCPO deputy director for operations, Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, said that upon receiving the report, cops from Police Station 6 responded immediately and were able to disperse the crowd along with the personnel from DILG.

Parilla said the investigation result will be submitted to the EOC which will come up with the decision against the organizers and the barangay officials.

"So wala gyuy pagpananghid and even sa atong pagpangutana sa atong barangay captain accordingly, wala sad silay gipahibaw nga dunay magsaulog didto, the names were already given," said Parilla.

The marching band that was also captured in the video is under investigation as the cops were tasked to find out who hired them.

Parilla emphasized that this kind of celebration is still prohibited under the quarantine restrictions.

He added that even churches are not also allowed to hold masses as this still fall under the category of physical gathering.

"Tan-awon nato kung unsay recommendation kung duna gyuy silay nalapas na criminal aspect so we can file criminal case just like sa atong ginabuhat kaniadto, katong mga naa tay nadakpan nga nag-rally," said Parilla.

Parilla further said that people can still celebrate, however, without the gatherings and activities.

"Walay inom-inom sa gawas, sayaw-sayaw, wala. So katong kagahapon clear violation jud to," said Parilla. — Decemay P. Padilla and Iris Hazel M. Mascardo, GMR (FREEMAN)