9 nabbed in Caloocan bar for quarantine violations

Nine people were arrested by the police at a restobar in Caloocan City on Wednesday for violating quarantine protocols, including failing to maintain physical distancing.

According to Police Lt. Col. Dennis Rodriguez, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area, the owners of Queencel Restobar and Grill at Barangay 106 failed to check the temperature of customers upon entry and did not provide them alcohol, sanitizers or foot baths.

The establishment also did not remind patrons to practice physical distancing within its premises. Those arrested were Maricel Elijedo, the bar manager; Christopher Ramos, her driver; Vicson Lamadrid, Reinerio Kuizon, Arman Mariano, Delfin Pasia, Arnold Palicpic, Mario Ramos and Danilo Paulino.

The police did not say whether the other people arrested were customers or Elijedo’s employees. CIDU members went to the establishment after a neighbor sent a complaint letter about its violation of quarantine protocols to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Rodriguez said when they entered the restobar, they caught some people gambling, another violation of the IATF’s rules.

Exceeding capacity limit

“They also did not follow the 30-percent operational capacity that is permitted under general community quarantine guidelines,” he added.

The arrested individuals will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 11332, the Law on Reporting Communicable Diseases; Presidential Decree No. 602; and City Ordinance No. 0863 series of 2020, or the physical distancing ordinance in Caloocan.