MANILA, Philippines — The establishment in Boracay that hosted a Halloween party wherein attendees were seen violating health protocols against coronavirus has been ordered closed and prohibited from operating, pending investigation, while those who participated in the party have also been penalized by the local government of Malay, Aklan.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday that charges have been filed against the establishment and the party guests.
“Lahat naman ng nag participate sa party na iyon ay pinarusahan ng fine ng Malay LGU (local government unit) at may kaukulang kaso din na isinampa, at ‘yung establishment na kung saan isinagawa ay hindi na papayagan mag-operate,” Año said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(Everyone who participated in the party was fined. There was also a complaint filed and the establishment where the party was held will no longer be allowed to operate.)
Before this, the Department of Tourism earlier slammed the holding of the Halloween party, adding that it fully supports the shutdown of the establishment that accommodated the party-goers on October 31.
The party was held after the tourist spot reopened to tourists on October 1 following months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Año reminded the public that partying is still prohibited on the island to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Meron pa tayong COVID, wala pa tayong bakuha. Mahirap ‘yan. Isang case lang na super spreader masisira na ang buhay dyan pati image ng Boracay masisira kaya hindi uubra ang mga party-party na yan,” he said.
(We still have COVID but we do not yet have a vaccine. If only one super spreader of coronavirus will infect others, many lives will be affected and the image of Boracay will be tarnished so parties are still not allowed.)