FILE PHOTO: San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora. Photo from Mayor Francis Zamora FB page
MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the disorderly incidents that happened during this year’s “Basaan Festival” were isolated incidents.
Zamora noted that rowdy scenes likewise took place during previous administrations’ conduct of the annual festivities, which is also known as the “Wattah Wattach Festival.”
The local chief executive was responding to a Facebook post by Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, who said that the city government had shortcomings in the preparations for the celebration and in reminding locals of the guidelines for the feast. Ejercito served as mayor of the city from 2001-2010.
“Number one, these are isolated incidents at kahit naman po no’ng nakaraang administrasyon dito sa San Juan, nangyari na po ‘yan,” Zamora said in an interview with reporters on Saturday, June 29.
(Number one, these are isolated incidents, and even in the past administrations here in San Juan, those have happened.)
READ: Ejercito laments leadership failure in San Juan’s chaotic ‘Basaan’ fest
“I take full responsibility sa nangyari and nakikita naman po ngayon ng lahat na gumagawa kami ng hakbang upang maparusahan ang mga nanggulo upang siguraduhin na makasuhan sila at maturuan ng leksyon dahil hindi naman po ito ang intensyon ng ating kapistahan,” he added.
(I take full responsibility for what happened and the public sees that we take steps to penalize those who have caused chaos to ensure that they will be filed cases against to and that they will be taught a lesson because this was not the intention of our feast.)
Basaan 2024 has been considered as rowdy by many people, who posted on social media their concerns and frustrations over the unruly behavior of some participants.
READ: Netizens air frustrations over recent chaotic ‘Basaan’ fest in San Juan
People reported that some participants attempted to open doors of vehicles passing by to drench drivers and passengers – which in some cases even destroyed documents and gadgets.
The local government earlier said an investigation is underway regarding such chaotic incidents. It also encouraged victims to file cases against the purported disorderly participants.