Those who join mass gatherings will be jailed, Duterte warns

MANILA, Philippines — Anyone who joins mass gatherings, which are forbidden during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be  jailed, President Rodrigo Duterte warned in his taped briefing that aired on Wednesday night

Duterte said he would find a law that would allow the police to arrest and detain those who attend mass gatherings.

He made the remark after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported that three mass gatherings occurred within the NCR Plus – which is composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.

These gatherings took place at a resort in Caloocan City where four of the guests were found COVID-positive; a pool party in Quezon City where 54 guests were infected; and one at a river in Bulacan.

“Most of you are committing a crime because you know that after gathering, after swimming together, a lot of you will get positive for COVID-19,” he said.

“It seems you’re ignoring the government’s plea and it’s criminal for you to get COVID-19 and pass it on to another innocent person. It is really a crime,” he continued, speaking partly in Filipino. “I will look for a suitable law because you are now forcing my hand to get into this thing and control it.”

He chided those who were “nonchalant” in the face of the COVID-19 threat, admonishing them for not helping reduce the number of COVID-19 but instead even transmitting the coronavirus.

“I’m telling you that it’s dangerous and you take it nonchalant[ly]. That means it’s okay for you, that it doesn’t matter to you,” Duterte said.

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