MANILA – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will conduct a “fact-finding” investigation into the social gatherings recently attended by Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Public Works Secretary Eduardo Año said his office will look into the incidents which drew large crowds and seemingly disregarded social distancing protocols.
“We will make sure na magkaroon ng fact-finding (investigation) diyan at kung merong dapat managot ay titignan namin,” Año said in an interview over DZBB.
Roque on Friday delivered a speech in Cebu on the opening of the Bantayan Island Airport. The Palace spokesperson, however, said he too was surprised by the volume of people in attendance.
“The activity where I was seen speaking before a crowd was organized by the local government, which I had no control as a guest,” Roque said in a statement on Saturday.
“I was later informed, that the local official/s mentioned in interview/s that they did not expect the huge turnout of people as well,” he added. “I have urged the crowd to wear their masks.”
Pacquiao, on the other hand, was seen speaking to a crowd in Batangas based on the supposed screenshots of Pacquaio’s wife Jinkee’s Instagram stories.
Año also urged government officials not to conduct mass gatherings anymore if they cannot practice social distancing.
“Nananawagan tayo sa lahat, including government officials, kung meron kayong activities at hindi niyo kayang ipatupad ‘yung health standards particularly [social] distancing, stop it, huwag niyo nang ituloy ‘yan. You cannot just say sorry. Mahirap ‘yun,” he said./PN
