MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday vowed to look into the alleged “party” held by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa in Baguio City even as it noted that “small gatherings” are permitted in areas under the less restrictive coronavirus lockdown measures.
“Hindi ko po alam kung talagang nagkaroon ng ganyang party. Ang masasabi ko lang po number one, we will check with Gen. Gamboa if there was such a party, and then number two, we will ask for an explanation,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.
However, Roque was quick to point out that Baguio City is currently under the most lenient modified general community quarantine or MGCQ where small gatherings are permitted subject to the minimum health standards enforced to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
“Although ang Baguio City po ay under MGCQ, hindi po siya MECQ. Ang MGCQ allowed po up to 50 percent capacity kung hindi ako nagkakamali,” Roque said.
“Pero titignan po natin, but in the first place, I cannot comment because hindi ko po alam kung talagang nagkaroon ng party sa Baguio,” he added.
Rumors about Gamboa’s supposed party at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as a farewell gathering for his retirement on September 2 have recently spread across social media.
Netizens posted a text message supposedly from a Baguio City resident stating that Gamboa’s party featured a live band performance at the Navy Base in Baguio City.
But Gamboa said there was no party or concert held in the city but only a dinner where quarantine rules were strictly followed.
“There is no truth to the allegations spreading on social media,” Gamboa said in a statement Sunday.
He noted that all the PNP officials who went to Baguio City underwent a triage which is a mandatory medical check being observed by the local government for incoming residents and visitors as part of the strict measures to prevent the entry and spread of the coronavirus disease.
“There was no party or concert. It was a dinner that ended at 9:30 p.m.,” the PNP chief said.
READ: No mañanita? PNP chief denies ‘partying’ in Baguio City