El Shaddai Dec. 26 gathering being probed, JTF COVID Shield chief says

The December 26 El Shaddai gathering in Parañaque City, where health protocols were supposedly not observed, is already being investigated, Joint Task Force COVID Shield chief Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag said on Monday.

"Investigation is ongoing in coordination with Parañaque City LGU (local government unit)," Binag told GMA News Online.

Binag said the city government had sent a letter to the El Shaddai administrator, stating that for similar events in the future, a permit must be secured before holding a gathering.

"The city will require prior application for a permit to determine measures to implement minimum health standards to protect its constituents and the public against COVID-19," he said.

No permit

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said religious gatherings are usually allowed provided that the 30% seating or venue capacity limit set by the national government is followed.

"Usually ang religious gathering, pinapayagan naman po 'yan eh. Pero ang nakalagay is 30% ng seating capacity... 'yan po 'yung guidelines kaya nga every time po na nagkakaroon ng gatherings ang El Shaddai, mayroon po kaming permit na binibigay po doon to make it a point na susunod po sila sa minimum health protocols," he said.

Olivarez noted that in this recent El Shaddai gathering, it seemed that the 30% seating capacity was not observed.

"Nagkaroon po sila ng overcrowding po doon, hindi naman ganoon kalaki kaya nga sinulatan po namin 'yung administrator ng El Shaddai para magpaliwanag sila kasi in the past, before Christmas, okay naman 'yung kanilang protocol eh," he said.

The mayor added the city government was not informed about the event so it also had no permit.

"Itong 26 na ito, hindi namin siya na-issue-han ng permit at hindi po kami nasabihan," Olivarez said.

Olivarez said the local government is expecting the explanation of El Shaddai regarding the matter within the day or tomorrow, Tuesday.—AOL, GMA News