Management of hotel in ‘Poblacion girl’ case to ‘humbly take’ criticism

MANILA, Philippines — Berjaya Hotel Makati on Wednesday said that it would “humbly take” public criticisms hurled at the hotel following its involvement in “Poblacion girl” incident, which is about a woman who allegedly skipped quarantine to party with friends only to turn out COVID-19 positive.

“If there’s anything that we need to correct, we humbly take it,” the hotel management said on a Facebook page.

“That’s how we learn and we improve. All we ask is that we are given the full opportunity to state our case and implement corrective action before being abruptly judged,” they added.

The management also pointed out that the hotel was able to serve 150,000 quarantine guests without any issues.

“We are talking on behalf of our team and fellow hoteliers: we didn’t fight on this battleground for two years serving our fellow Filipinos and just like this we are simply pinned down, crucified by a circumstance that is so unforeseen and unbecoming.”

The hotel also decried the allegation that the company is one of the “connections” of the woman in question, identified by authorities as Gwyneth Anne Chua.

Chua was alleged to have boasted that she has “connections,” according to Department of Tourism (DOT) chief Berna Romulo-Puyat.

“We don’t tolerate violators and nor entertain thoughts of being a ‘connection,’” the hotel said.

“We chose to be silent to give way for investigations and put things for resolution, and we are cooperating fully. However, the conversation on the violation is becoming out of hand… We find it unfortunate that some people are casually citing allegations without proper investigations and facts and without thought to how misinformation can damage lives,” the hotel added.

The DOT has since suspended Berjaya Hotel Makati’s accreditation and its permit as a multiple-use hotel, as well as slapping it with a fine “equivalent to twice the rack rate of its most expensive room.”

Eventually, Chua, her parents, and five employees of Berjaya Hotel were also charged before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday.

JPV