Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said that he would issue a show-cause order against barangay officials responsible for a streetdance and procession in Cebu City, despite the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in the city.
Año said the Department of the Interior and Local Government had received reports that hundreds of people flocked to the streets of Sitio Alumnos in Barangay Basak San Nicolas last June 27, to participate in a Sinulog street dance and procession.
In a statement, Año said he had ordered the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to investigate and file charges against the Sinulog event organizers.
“We will not tolerate any violation of our quarantine protocols. Those responsible will be made to account. Hindi din naman tayo tumitigil sa pagpapaalala na napakalaki ng risk of transmission ng Covid-19 sa mass gathering and yet we see these kinds of activities and what makes it worse ay ang barangay na ito ay isang Covid-19 hotspot,” Año said.
Barangay Basak San Nicolas was one of the 12 barangays in the city placed under strict lockdown due to the high number of recorded Covid-19 cases in the city.
“We need people to practice discipline. They should know better dahil ang Cebu City ang may pinakamaraming kaso, dapat sila ang mas maingat. We have nothing against the expression of devotion but in a time of crisis, kailangan mag-isip din naman tayo. Sa ganitong mga pagsuway mas maraming buhay tayong nilalagay sa kapahamakan. Disiplina muna!” he said.
Cebu City has recorded 4,562 total Covid-19 infections as of June 28, with 592 recoveries and 78 deaths. John Ezekiel J. Hirro