By Jennifer P. Rendon
Who are those individuals, now dubbed as the “rich kids” or RK of Iloilo City, who participated in a controversial pool party that may have violated quarantine protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic?
“We don’t know yet, for now. But our investigators are on the hunt for their identities,” Police Major Francisco Paguia, Iloilo City Police Station 1, said.
Contrary to reports that the partygoers were from affluent families, Paguia said they received information that those who participated in the Wanderpool Bar party event on June 6, 2020 are young partygoers who are not necessarily “anak-mayaman” (rich kids).
“But that’s beside the point. There was a violation of an ordinance and they must be held answerable to that,” he said.
While ICPS1 investigators are following leads to identify the partygoers, Paguia asked the public’s help in identifying the persons.
Still, the bar owner, a certain Carol Sanchez, has refused to identify the participants to the event which she described as “by invitation only celebration” that took place at The Castle Hotel in Bonifacio Drive, City Proper, Iloilo City.
The partygoers face charges for violating Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-066 (An Ordinance Implementing Physical Distancing as a Response Measure to Prevent the spread and/or local transmission of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease [COVID-19] In Iloilo City).
A mere P500 fine will be slapped on the violators.
Paguia said it might be a long shot to pursue a case for violation of Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act).
“But we would look into that,” he said.
On Tuesday, Police Colonel Eric Dampal, Iloilo City police chief, confirmed that investigators found that there was a clear violation of RO No. 2020-066 when Wanderpool Party Bar held a party while Iloilo City was on modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
The ICPO conducted the probe after videos and photos of the pool party went viral on social media last week.
These videos and photos have been deleted but not before some netizens took screenshots.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has also ordered the conduct of probe on the partygoers and those who spearheaded the event.
The ICPO has recommended that Wanderpool Party Bar be penalized relative to the guidelines under RO No. 2020-066 after admitting that the pool party indeed happened.
The police are exploring the possibility of revoking the management’s business permit and shutting down the establishment under RO No. 2020-066.
