Only lawyer shows up at preliminary investigation of ‘Poblacion Girl’ case

The woman came to be called Poblacion Girl because she reportedly went into a bar and a restaurant in Barangay Poblacion in Makati despite being under quarantine.

MANILA, Philippines — Gwyneth Anne Chua, the so-called Poblacion Girl, and her family did not show up during the first preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by the police for her violation of quarantine protocols. Only their counsel attended on their behalf.

During Monday’s preliminary investigation, the Makati Prosecutors Office required the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to present its witnesses in the next preliminary investigation to reaffirm their affidavits.

The prosecutor also required the CIDG to provide the other parties copies of CCTV footage it acquired and submit some of its documentary evidence.

Aside from the lawyer of Poblacion girl and her family, also present during the preliminary investigation were the counsels for the CIDG, the lawyer for Berjaya Hotel where Poblacion Girl was supposed to have undergone quarantine but managed to leave to attend a party and dine at a nearby restaurant and visit a bar.

The complaint filed against Poblacion Girl and eight others is a violation of Republic Act No. 11332 —  the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

The complaint specifically mentioned that Poblacion Girl, her parents, employees, and officials of the hotel violated Section 9 (d) of R.A. No. 11332, which says prohibits the“non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern.”

Aside from violating the main R.A. 11332, the police said the nine individuals also violated Rule XI Section 1 (g) (iii), (iv) of the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations.

READ: Complaint filed vs. Poblacion girl, 8 others for COVID-19 quarantine breach

ATM