ILOILO – Mayor Bienvenido Margarico of Janiuay town vowed to prevent crowd-drawing events that could lead to more coronavirus infections after a recent visit of actress Gretchen Barretto and businessman Charles “Atong” Ang attracted hordes of curious people.
Defying pandemic physical distancing rules, nosey Janiuaynons descended on the town’s municipal hall where Barretto and Ang paid Margarico a courtesy call.
Margarico was quick to apologize after photos showing swarms of people besieging the town hall turned up on social media and sparked criticism. He acknowledged that local authorities failed to control the situation.
According to the mayor, security personnel were deployed at the venues where Barretto and Ang went, including a leisure farm resort in the town, but they did not expect a heavy turnout of curious onlookers.
“Basta may popular nga celebrity, kabudlay punggan ang mga tawu. Gin-exhaust gid namon ang tanan. Ginpahulag ko ang mga pulis kag traffic aide para ma-implement ang social distancing pero anhon mo na kay ang mga tawo indi gid mapunggan,” Margarico said.
Ang, a cockfight enthusiast, visited Barangay Gines to inspect the proposed venue for online cockfighting derby in Panay Island.
Ang and Baretto then proceeded to Damires Hills, where more people gathered to get a glimpse of the celebrities.
Margarico said what happened was a lesson to local officials.
Under the government’s quarantine policy, any form of mass gathering is prohibited in areas under General Community Quarantine.
Earlier, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. decreed a ban on all public events and gatherings to reduce indigenous or local coronavirus disease cases.
Defensor also cited the assessment of contact tracers and the recommendation of the Philippine National Police, which point to mass gatherings as the main contributor to the local spread of the viral disease.
He appealed for patience and understanding from the public, citing the erratic trend of COVID-19 cases in the province./PN
