Supreme Court calls out judge who allegedly held birthday buffet amid quarantine

The Supreme Court (SC) has called out a Compostela Valley judge who allegedly celebrated her birthday with a buffet in her chambers in the time of strict quarantine and social distancing rules.

The tribunal issued a show cause order against Judge Cresenciana Dela Cruz Cruz of the Nabunturan Compostela Valley Regional Trial Court Branch 3 and her staff, the SC's Public Information Office (PIO) said Tuesday.

The judge and her staff allegedly celebrated her birthday weeks ago "by having a buffet treat in her chambers ignoring the strict guideline on social distancing," the SC PIO said.

The SC also ordered the Office of the Court Administrator to submit a report within 15 calendar days as to whether or not the judge and her staff committed violations.

Davao de Oro and other provinces in the Davao region are under general community quarantine.

Compostela Valley was one of the provinces that did not report new COVID-19 cases between April 18 and May 2, according to the Department of Health.

Another public official, Metro Manila police chief Major General Debold Sinas, drew criticism for holding a birthday "mañanita" despite strict social distancing rules amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Sinas faces a complaint for violation of the law on the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and health events of public concern as well as for violation of Taguig City's ordinance requiring the wearing of face masks. —LDF, GMA News