Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas confirmed Thursday that the agency is investigating the mass gathering Palace spokesperson Harry Roque attended in Cebu on November 27.
According to Sinas, the PNP would forward the results of their investigation to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
“Yes, ‘yung sa may Bantayan Island. Kaya nga kami mag-iimbestiga at magre-recommend kasi na kay DILG po ‘yun kung ano po ang gusto niyang gagawin,” Sinas told ANC.
(Yes, the one on Bantayan Island. That is why we will investigate and recommend it because it is up to DILG to do what he wants to do.)
“Kung may findings at ganito ‘yung recommendations namin at kung ano ang gustong ipagpatuloy ni Secretary Año, ayoko po siya pangunahan…” he added.
(If there are findings and this is our recommendations and what Secretary Año wants to continue, I do not want to lead him.)
Earlier, Roque explained that he was just invited as a guest and that the local government organized the event. He added he had no control over the number of attendees and insisted he urged the people to obey health protocols.
Police probing mass gathering attended by Roque in Cebu
Aside from Roque, DILG is also investigating Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who went to a hospital pending the result of his COVID-19 test, and former Metro Manila police chief and now Philippine National Police chief Police General Debold Sinas, who held a “mañanita” birthday, due to alleged violations of health protocols.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also told government officials to become role models in observing health and safety protocols because refusing to do so could confuse the public, making it harder to manage virus transmission.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that they continue to remind everyone to wear masks, practice hand hygiene and observe physical distancing.
“We expect leaders to be examples. We want leaders to be models. We want influencers to be models … [T]hey have to set the example,” Tedros said at a briefing in WHO’s headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya also said Wednesday that government officials should lead by example in following health and safety protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmissions.