Pacquiao event in Batangas overwhelmed cops

A Batangas police director on Monday bared police officers were overwhelmed in monitoring the alleged mass gathering event in Batangas where Senator Manny Pacquiao distributed cash aid.

According to a "24 Oras" report of Ivan Mayrina, Batangas police director Police Colonel Glicerio Cansilao bared that they submitted to the government their findings on the investigation of Eleksyon 2022 presidential aspirants Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Pacquiao's events in Batangas.

Cansilao said social distancing and other public health protocols were followed during Moreno's event.

"Mayroong social distancing at the same time, 'yung umattend doon, prior noon ay mayroong antigen (test) na ginawa," said Cansilao.

(There is social distancing and those who attended were subjected to an antigen test.)

As for Pacquiao's aid distribution event, Cansilao said it was difficult for police officers to control the crowd.

"'Yung area doon, parang palengke... Dumog na 'yun kasi hindi lang doon, actually may usyoso... Kaya kumbaga ang ating mga kapulisan, na-overwhelm," the police director said.

(The area there was like a market. People were gathering there... So our policemen were overwhelmed.)

Moreno already asked the Batangas government that they must enforce proper health protocols during the event.

Pacquiao has yet to react to the police observation but he previously said they reminded the crowd to observe social distancing.  He further denied that their distribution was a move to buy people's votes. 

"Hindi tayo nagkulang ng paalala sa mga tao. In fact yung mga pulis natin may placard na ‘social distancing.’ Pinaalalahanan natin sila na para makatulong sa ating gobyerno ay sumunod tayo sa protocol na ipinapatupad ng IATF," Pacquiao said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government, for its part, reminded the candidates to observe minimum health protocols in their campaigns.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News