Malay, Aklan Mayor Frolibar Bautista said Tuesday that the organizers of a Halloween party held in Boracay island despite the quarantine restrictions were already penalized.
Bautista revealed in a radio interview that the party occurred in a private house but did not disclose when it exactly happened. He said authorities were not able to notice the Halloween party immediately since it was far from the beach area.
“Base sa investigation, mayroon kasing organizers… dinala doon sa isang private house, doon sila nagparty-party noong sa Halloween. Di kaagad nakita ‘yun kasi area na malayo sa beach siya so ‘di siya masyadong makikita… ‘yun nga may nakapasok doon at nakuhanan ng video,” Bautista said.
He said the party’s organizers were fined P5,000 while authorities are still looking for another organizer.
Bautista added some foreigners who attended the party even wore policemen uniforms. He said complaints had been filed against them.
“Sa ngayon, na-penalize sila and ‘yung dalawang nag-join sa party na ginamit nila ‘yung uniform ng police, nafile-an ng kaso, foreigner na ‘yun. I don’t think uulitin pa nila ‘yun kasi ‘yung organizer nila nagtatago eh,” Bautista said.
Organizers of Boracay Halloween party penalized – mayor
Authorities confirmed that criminal complaints were filed against the foreigners for allegedly violating Art. 179 of the Revised Penal Code (Illegal Use of Uniform).
Police also said they requested the Bureau of Immigration to declare the foreigners as “undesirable aliens.”
Mayor Bautista said the Island of Boracay remains COVID-19 free.
The national government opened Boracay Island to tourists to boost the tourism industry despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening initially started in June for Aklan residents, then eventually opened for the entire Western Visayas residents.
In June, the BFP Region 6 staff held an unofficial trip and “party” in Boracay, which spoiled the island’s opening.
The staff of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 6, including an employee whose pending COVID-19 test later returned positive, hosted a “despedida party” in Boracay.
As a result, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año relieved the director of BFP Region VI and its 28 personnel who went and held the party.