Manila residents caught playing basketball amid Alert Level 3; exec apologizes

Despite being placed under Alert Level 3 until the end of the month, several residents in the Manila Engineering Compound in A. Bonifacio were caught playing basketball amid the rising cases of COVID-19.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, children were also seen playing in the court.

GMA News went to the court and saw several men playing without face masks.

One of the residents who sent the tip to GMA News said residents have been playing in the court until wee hours.

Councilor Darwin Sia, who was in charge of the area, apologized for the incident.

"Mali kasi may IATF rules tayo na dapat bawal. Ang pagkakamali ko lang din po ay ako po ay nagtutok sa pagtulong sa vaccination, hindi ko ho na-monitor 'tong aking lugar. Mali po talaga 'yon," he said.

"'Yong karamihan po ng naglalaro dito is mga e-trike driver na kapag po sila ay nag-cha-charge o nagpapahinga ay nagpapawis sila," he added.

The government placed Metro Manila and around 50 other areas under alert level 3 until January 31.

Under this alert level, contact sports are not allowed unless it is approved by the government.

Sia said he is ready to face the consequences for the incident.

"Pasensya na po kayo, 'di na po mauulit 'yan," he said.

GMA News reached out to the Manila City government but it has yet to respond as of posting time.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News