Año to discuss with DENR who will be sanctioned on Manila Bay social distancing failure

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said he would discuss with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu if other higher officials will be held liable over the failure to impose social distancing at the Manila Bay Sands over the weekend.

"I will discuss it first with Secretary Cimatu kung ano pa 'yung magiging course of action namin dito. We will also really check what went wrong. For now, mahirap kasing magsalita muna but somehow, 'yun muna ang actions na ginawa ko," Año told CNN Philippines.

Ermita Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Caramoan had already been relieved from his post after a huge number of individuals flocked to the "beautified" Manila Bay.

Año said authorities should have expected that a lot of individuals would visit the area after being stuck at home for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He, however, noted there was lack of preparation on the opening of the Manila Bay.

"Para sa akin kasi expected talaga na maraming pupunta diyan. Siguro dahil sa tagal ng lockdown, the people wanted to go to the beach. Nakita nila 'yung Manila Bay, binuksan for awhile, for two days, at gusto nilang makita by their own eyes," Año said.

"Kaya lang sa tingin ko kulang 'yung preparation para maenforce natin 'yung minimum health standards, nagpaalam naman ang DENR at ang Manila LGU na they will have a two-day activity. Sana napaghandaan nang husto 'yan. Ang pinakaimmediate kasi dapat na magpreprepare talaga diyan ang Philippine National Police..." he added.

He said more policemen should have been deployed in the area and that barriers should have been installed. Año also mentioned that the local government of Manila City should have prepared for the event.

"Dapat mas maraming pulis na dineploy saka kailangan din diyan naglagay tayo ng barriers. Of course the Manila LGU, siyempre dapat talaga nakapagprepare tayo dito," he said.

Meanwhile, the DILG chief also urged the public that since general community quarantine is still enforced, people should still refrain from going out of their residences.

"Sana ngayong nasa GCQ pa tayo, tayo rin sana 'yung unang susunod sa minimum health standards," he said.

The area has been closed on Monday for continued rehabilitation work, and authorities banned picture taking even from the footbridge overlooking the Manila Bay Sands.—AOL, GMA News