Holy Week advisory: Remulla warns against swimming while intoxicated

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday warned against swimming while intoxicated during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, saying that the number one cause of fatalities during Holy Week is intoxication in beach areas.

“Nagiinuman ‘yan hanggang 10, 11, lasing na lasing sabay sasabihin nila swimming muna tayo. Last year, parang umabot tayo ng walo ang nalunod dahil dyan. Nagiinuman sabay magsi-swimming sila,” he said in a press conference.

(They drink until 10 or 11, and they’re already very drunk, then they say let’s go swimming. Last year, it seems eight people drowned because of that. They drink and then go swimming.)

According to Remulla, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard will also be deployed in beaches to remind individuals against this.

“Nagkakasayahan, sabay magkakayayaan, halika swimming muna tayo. Ipapaalala lang sa kanila pag nakitang nagiinuman doon. Huwag na kayong lumangoy,” he said.

(They are having fun, then they invite each other, come on, let’s go swimming. Just a reminder to them when they are seen drinking there. Do not swim.)

“Hindi naman huhulihin. Hindi naman bawal magsaya habang Holy Week. Huwag lang kayo mag saya nang magswi-swimming pa. Tama na ‘yun,” he added.

(They will not be arrested. It is not prohibited to have fun during Holy Week. Just don’t have fun to the point of going swimming. That’s enough.)

Transportation Secertary Giovanni Lopez said the PCG has been on full alert since Saturday.

Lopez said that an estimated 2.6 million passengers pass through the country’s ports nationwide while 150,000 passengers pass through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport per day.

“Basically ganon din ang balik niyan, 150,000. Ang ating PITX po, they’re hoping po, no, from March 28 hanggang Easter Sunday, they’re lookin mga 3 million ang foot traffic and passengers there,” he said.

(Basically it’s the same in return, 150,000. Our PITX (Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange), they are hoping that from March 28 until Easter Sunday, they are looking at around 3 million in foot traffic and passengers there.)

He also said that the Coast Guard deployed 17,000 personnel. — BAP, GMA News