16 individuals including a minor were collared last Sept. 12 after allegedly engaging in a birthday celebration in Taguig City. /JTF COVID Shield
MANILA, Philippines — A netizen’s report led police to arrest 16 partygoers in Taguig City on Saturday for supposedly violating minimum health protocols, the Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield said Tuesday.
The police task force identified the suspects as Ralph Cruz, 19; Nichole Cruz, 21; Michael Quijou, 21; Christian Pregil, 21; Paul Belarmino, 21; Ian Augala, 21; Enen Sison, 21; Jojo Angala, 39; Jackie Bosque, 37; Franz Pascua, 19; Monica Reyes, 19; Kevin John de Guzman, 23; Ivan Pacete, 21; Gabriel Inserto, 21;, Mark Anthony Ortigas, 21. A 17-year-old female was also arrested in the operation.
Members of Hagonoy Police Sub-Station 9 in Taguig City arrested the individuals along Aguirre Street in Barangay Lower Bicutan at 10:30 p.m.
Police said the individuals were not wearing face masks and not social distancing during the event.
The arrest came after an anonymous Facebook user sent photos and information about the 16 individuals allegedly engaging in a drinking session along the street.
The birthday party photos were sent to JTF COVID Shield’s Facebook page, which was activated last week.
16 individuals including a minor were collared last Sept. 12 after allegedly engaging in a birthday celebration in Taguig City. /JTF COVID Shield
“Thanks to the timely report of a concerned netizen who provided the local police with the details of the violation and even provided photos of the on-going violation of the quarantine protocols to the COVID Shield Facebook Page,” JTF COVID Shield chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar also encouraged the public to report lockdown violators in their communities to ensure that minimum health standards are observed which will suppress the coronavirus infections.
“The operation in Taguig City is a proof of what we as a country could achieve in terms of protecting public health if we would all work together to protect ourselves and our community from the coronavirus,” Eleazar, who is also Philippine National Police deputy for administration, said.
“We hope that this successful operation would encourage more of our kababayan to report to us all the quarantine violations in their community. We assure them of our quick response and the protection of their identity,” he added.
The individuals were brought to the basketball court of Barangay Lower Bicutan for six-hour detention.
Police will also file complaints for violation of Taguig ordinance on drinking in public places and violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority) against the suspects.