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Año assures 'fact-finding' probe into mass gathering attended by Roque, Pacquiao

By ERWIN COLCOL,GMA News

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday assured that there will be a "fact-finding investigation" into the recent events attended by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Senator Manny Pacquiao which drew large crowds and seemingly disregarded social distancing protocols.

"We will make sure na magkaroon ng fact-finding diyan at kung merong dapat managot ay titignan namin," Año said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview when asked about the said events.

Roque on Friday delivered a speech before a large crowd in Cebu for the opening of the Bantayan Island Airport, although he said he too was surprised by the volume of people

in attendance.

“The activity where I was seen speaking before a crowd was organized by the local government, which I had no control as a guest,” Roque said.

“I was later informed, that the local official/s mentioned in interview/s that they did not expect the huge turnout of people as well,” he added.

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Roque also claimed that he urged the crowd to wear their masks.

Meanwhile, supposed screenshots of Pacquaio's wife Jinkee's Instagram stories went viral on social media showing the senator speaking to a crowd in Batangas that did not observe social distancing.

Año urged government officials not to conduct mass gatherings anymore if they cannot practice social distancing.

"Nananawagan tayo sa lahat, including government officials, kung meron kayong activities at hindi niyo kayang ipatupad 'yung health standards particularly [social] distancing, stop it, huwag niyo nang ituloy 'yan. You cannot just say sorry. Mahirap 'yun," he said.

GMA News Online has reached out to Roque and to Pacquiao's camp to clarify the photos and to comment on Año's remarks as of posting. —KG, GMA News