BFP staff, including COVID-positive employee, held ‘party’ in Boracay —Puyat

The staff of the Bureau of Fire Protection Region 6, including an employee whose pending COVID-19 test later returned positive, held a “despedida party” in Boracay last week, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Wednesday.

“They had a party pero walang certificate to operate ang hotel,” Puyat told GMA News’ JP Soriano.

Earlier, Malay, Aklan acting mayor Frolibar Bautista said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV that the patient, along with several other BFP staff, said they were attending a conference in the tourist destination from June 12 to 14.

Bautista said that initial investigation discovered that the patient, a woman, went to the island with a pending COVID-19 test.

Puyat said the Department of Tourism has already initiated accreditation revocation procedures on the resort that housed the group because it did not have a certificate of authority to operate at the time.

“‘Yung hotel na pinag-stay-an nila, ‘yung hotel, hindi pa siya puwede mag-open, nag-open na sila. Walang certificate to operate,” she told GMA News Online. “Dahil nagtanggap na sila, hindi pa open ang Boracay, ni-revoke namin ang DOT accreditation.”

“‘Pag walang DOT accreditation, they're not allowed to hold business,” Puyat added.

She also said the BFP staff, as well as the hotel employees and those who came in close contact with the patient, have already been isolated.

Further, Puyat said she was dismayed by the incident because many tourists from Western Visayas were already looking forward to its official reopening on June 16.

“Hindi siya official. Noong pumunta sila sa Boracay, it was not for work and hindi pa bukas ang Boracay noon. It was only officially opened noong June 16,” she said.

“Nakakainis kasi bawal kasi tapos nalaman na lang nila noong nandoon na may COVID-positive pala,” Puyat added.

Bautista earlier said the reopening of the tourist spot was spoiled after authorities confirmed that the BFP employee had tested positive for the illness.

The local government of Malay also condemned the incident, saying it was “irresponsible and [in] blatant disregard of quarantine protocols.”

Bautista said he has already consulted with the municipal legal office to file a case against those “irresponsible personnel” who violated quarantine protocols.

Establishments who accepted the BFP staff's unofficial business trip will also be probed for possible violation of Executive Orders No. 027 and 027-A of the municipality of Malay, the LGU said.

Local authorities are already conducting contact tracing and advised all concerned to take necessary health and safety measures, Bautista said. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News