Netizens call out Raymond Gutierrez for allegedly throwing a party amid pandemic
Concerned netizens are airing out their frustration towards TV personality Raymond Gutierrez and his acquaintances for allegedly throwing a party amid a pandemic at La Picara Restaurant at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
In a photo that's circulating all over social media, Raymond is seen in a crowded restaurant with his guests huddled around him, waiting for him to blow his cake.
The caption in the photo said, “Happy birthday, @mond.
“Note: Everyone was PCR Tested!”
Another photo shows the front of the restaurant with a notice of closure from the Taguig City Government.
The post elicited different opinions from netizens asking who's to blame--Raymond Gutierrez for throwing the party or the establishment for allowing the said gathering to happen.
One netizen said, “The pa-cool peeps are back again. They'll be celebrating their birthdays like surviving 2020, and yet, we're still not free from the virus this 2021--nadagdagan pa nga ng UK variant.
“Sana lang makunsensya naman 'yang si Mond at i-employ 'yung mga nawalan ng mga trabaho.”
Another noted, “I was surprised how many times when they didn't respect the maximum people allowed to be inside the restaurant. They were asking for this a long time ago!”
Source: Twitter.com
In an official statement by Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano, he said that a negative swab test conducted on the guests wasn't an excuse for the restaurant's violation.
It said, “Establishments in Taguig that endanger the health and safety of their customers and employees will be engaged immediately. Repeated violators will be closed down.
"We will not allow a few irresponsible establishments to compromise our efforts in making Taguig a model community for living in the new normal.
"We will strive to implement health and safety protocols so that businesses in Taguig can thrive.”
In another post, Taguig Representative Lani Cayetano also urgently asked influencers to set a good example to their followers.
“A 'negative' test result is not a ticket to socialize without precautions and disregard minimum health protocols,” she said.
“A test result detects the virus at one point in time. It only means that COVID-19 is undetected at the time and place you were swabbed.”
Lani added, “To the influencers, the present situation calls for you to set the right example and do the right thing for everyone's safety. People look up to you and admire you.
"This responsibility should not be taken lightly. Now is the time to use your platform, do good, and perform your civic duty to society.
“Everyone is welcome to enjoy what the City of Taguig has to offer.
"You are welcome to visit our city to dine, shop, do business, but do so responsibly.
"We have worked hard to earn our place as the City with the least number of active cases per 100,000 population in Metro Manila. We intend to keep it that way.
“Please do not let the efforts of our public servants and health workers go to waste.”
As of this writing, Raymond Gutierrez has remained mum about the issue.
Meanwhile, here are other establishments that closed down due to COVID-19: