DILG spares Panelo’s videoke session

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) considers Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo’s karaoke session at a restaurant an “isolated incident,” so he will not be investigated.

A video of Panelo spread where he was seen singing in a restaurant with his face shield and face mask removed.

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This is despite orders to limit such activity in the middle of the pandemic due to the virus’s possibility of spreading.

But for DILG, it is useless to investigate Panelo because he has already apologized. He said it should just be a lesson learned.

“Wala naman kinakailangang imbestigahan dito. Pero ito ay isang mapupulutan ng aral na bilang isang official, dapat i-observe mo ang lahat… Nag-apologize siya na hindi dapat niya ginawa,” said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday.

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(There is no need to investigate here. But this is a lesson learned as an official, you should observe everything. He apologized that he should not have done that.)

This is not the first time that a government official has been criticized for violating health protocols.

Netizens had previously criticized Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque last month after being videotaped karaoke in the middle of typhoon Ulysses.

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In many parts of the country, karaoke is also limited to not disturb students in the middle of blended learning.

Also read: Infected Pimentel caught shopping at S&R BGC on March 16

Roque, Pacquiao cleared of quarantine violations – DILG

Investigators cleared both Palace spokesman Harry  Jr. and Sen. Manny Pacquiao of quarantine violations of health and safety protocols when they attended their respective public events.

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the two officials’ alleged violation of protocols during the events they attended. Pacquiao visited Agoncillo, Batangas on November 26, 2020, while Roque went to Bantayan Island, Cebu on November 27, 2020.

PNP said those who attended the event violated physical distancing briefly when Pacquiao went down the stage but returned immediately to the stage during his speech.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7’s report revealed that there was no increase in the number of COVID-19 cases after Roque visited Bantayan, Cebu.