MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City is urging “victims” of this year’s “Basaan” or “Wattah Wattah” Festival to come forward, as it offered them help in filing complaints against participants who caused a disturbance.
Mayor Francis Zamora made this call in a press conference on Thursday, revealing that one victim has filed a complaint against a participant, citing the San Juan City police.
READ: San Juan City probes reported ‘Basaan 2024’ chaos
“Mas gusto ko po na pumunta sila dito at sila ang mag-file ng kaso direct sa mga piskal upang Revised Penal Code (RPC) mismo ang magamit kung saan mas malaki ang magiging parusa sa kanila,” Zamora pointed out.
(I prefer they come here and file a case directly with the prosecutors so that the RPC can be used and the punishment will be more severe for them.)
“Iniimbitahan po namin kayo dito sa aming opisina, tutulungan namin kayo sa pamamagitan ng aming city legal officer upang makapag-file kayo ng kaso dito sa aming San Juan City Prosecutor’s Office,” he added.
(We invite you to our office and we will help you file a case through our city legal officer before our San Juan City Prosecutor’s Office.)
Under the RPC, violators will be penalized depending on the gravity of the offense, such as direct assault, less serious physical injuries, and other threats like coercion, unjust vexation, malicious mischief, and slander, among others.
Compared to the RPC, Zamora revealed that violators will only be penalized with a fine of P2,500 with one day of community service for the first offense, a fine of P3,500 with three days of community service for the second offense, or a fine of P5,000 with one to six days of imprisonment for the third offense as stated in Section 3 of San Juan City ordinance no. 51 series of 2018.
In an earlier statement, the local government said it has already started investigating reports of rowdy behavior by some participants during the event last June 24.
San Juan City has apologized to individuals inconvenienced by their “Basaan,” which commemorates St. John the Baptist on his natal day. The dousing or splashing of water on people during the Basaan festivities imitates the baptism of St. John as written in the Bible.
The city government likewise encouraged participants or witnesses with relevant photos or videos of alleged violations to submit them to the San Juan City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, which will be forwarded to the San Juan City Police Station for investigation.