DILG reviewing PNP findings on Roque, Pacquiao's gatherings amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has already received the results of the probe of the Philippine National Police (PNP's) on the mass gatherings attended by presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Senator Manny Pacquiao amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have received the PNP’s investigation report and this is currently under review by our DILG legal service,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.

"The findings of the PNP are currently under review. We assure the public that the Department will continue to remind both national and LGU (local government unit) officials to abide with the health protocols to prevent further transmission of the virus," he added.

Año said the PNP had found that there was no confirmed case of COVID-19 reported before and after the event in Agoncillo, Batangas, which was attended by Pacquiao.

"The PNP report says that the local government officials of Agoncillo, Batangas ensured that health protocols such as wearing of face mask and face shield and the adherence to social distancing requirements were strictly observed during Pacquiao’s distribution of relief goods to those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption and the pandemic," he said.

"The seats in the activity were also arranged to ensure that social distancing was observed. The LGU also distributed face masks and face shields,” Año added.

Information from the police indicated that physical distancing protocol was briefly disturbed when Pacquiao went down the stage while delivering his speech but he returned immediately to the stage.

"The senator and the local government officials then decided to cut short the event and advised the crowd to go home," Año said.

Meanwhile, the DILG chief said the investigation conducted by Police Regional Office 7 revealed that only four confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded in Bantayan Island, Cebu which was attended by Roque,

"After which, no increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was recorded," he said.

According to Año, the PNP report showed that during the kick-off ceremony attended by Roque, Duterte's spokesman stressed in his speech the importance of observing physical distancing and other minimum health standards to the audience.

"Unfortunately, rainfall ensued, causing the audience to scamper to take shelter, thereby breaching physical distancing protocols,"  Año said.

Probe also showed that Roque and local government officials were able to control the situation by advising the audience to return home and leave the venue, he said.

Año advised government officials to always set the example in following health protocols as well as abide by PNP recommendations to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents.

“The PNP suggested the use of gymnasium and sports complexes for similar events and avoid crowding by advising those denied entry to the activity to go home as well as putting physical barriers to strictly observe social distancing,” he said.

He also made a recommendation to organizers to determine the total number of participants prior to the event and to install a clear and robust public announcement system to remind the crowd of the observance of minimum health standards. -NB, GMA News