MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday served a six-month suspension, as well as a P10,000 fine and the revocation of its certification to operate on Makati’s City Garden Grand Hotel, which hosted a New Year’s revelry that later led to the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
In a statement, the DOT said that the hotel “was found to have misrepresented itself to the public as being allowed to accommodate guests for leisure or staycation purposes despite being a quarantine facility.”
“Under DOT Administrative Order No. 2020-002-C, hotels operating as quarantine facilities are prohibited from accepting guests for leisure purposes,” the DOT said.
But the tourism department said that the hotel “has the right to appeal within the period prescribed by the DOT rules and regulations.”
The DOT likewise reminded that accredited establishments serving as quarantine facilities could not offer their rooms and other facilities for leisure purposes.
On Jan. 5, the DOT issued a show-cause order against City Garden Grand Hotel, directing hotel management to submit a written response within three days why its DOT accreditation should not be revoked.
READ: DOT issues show-cause order vs Makati hotel where crime vs flight attendant happened
Dacera’s body was found in a dry bathtub of the hotel on Jan. 1 after attending a New Year party. Her family said she was sexually abused before her death.
The Makati City police said there was foul play in Christine’s death, prompting them to file a provisional charge of rape with homicide against 11 people who were with the victim on New Year’s Day.
But the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office tossed back the case to the police for further investigation on the case.
READ: Makati City Prosecutor tosses back Dacera case to police; orders release of 3 suspects
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