Cops did not have lapses

CEBU, Philippines —  The Provincial Police Office found no lapses on the part of policemen who were assigned to man the Madridejos stop of the first day of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Santa Fe/Madridejos/Bantayan Escapade on November 27, 2020.

The welcome ceremony in Madridejos became controversial and triggered investigations after large crowds were photographed at the Kota Park, violating physical distancing protocols.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Ronnie Montejo said Sunday that investigation by the Provincial Police Office found that security and minimum health protocols were in place at Kota Park for the activity until rain poured and forced people to gather under tents.

“Sa nakita nako ug nabasa nako, base sa ilang report, okay ang start… permiro… mura’g didto nag-kuan, sa dihang nag-ulan nga ang normal reaction sa mga audience… ang nahitabo, nagdinaganay didto sa tent kay mosilong ba," Montejo told reporters.

(Based on what I saw and read in their report, it started well… the problem started when it rained and when people ran under the tents for shelter.)

The policemen eventually dispersed the crowd to avoid violating physical distancing protocols further.

Montejo said they have come up with recommendations that would establish rules to avoid the same incident from happening in the future.

"Unexpected siguro to kay nindot man ang panahon… wala nila ma-kuan na bigla diay mu-uwan… mao na akong nakita sa report...naay nag tapok sa usa ka area, pero gamay raman sila, dayon naa say uban na na-disperse sila… it so happened nga didto ta nakakuha ug picture doon sa nagtapok," Montejo said.

(It was unexpected because the weather was fine… they did not anticipate that it would rain… that’s what I saw in the report… there was a crowd in one area but there weren’t that many people there, and the others were dispered… it so happened that the photos captured only those in the crowds.)

Montejo said the people must have been overwhelmed by the sudden downpour, which was why they were forced to crowd together and violate physical distancing for a few minutes.

CPPO conducted the investigation upon the order of PNP chief Debold Sinas.

The event at Kota Park was attended by key officials like Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Dino, and Department of Health-7 Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas.

The Department of Education in Central Visayas is also investigating the incident after some people in the audience were seen wearing school uniforms. Students are currently under distance learning mode because of the pandemic and are supposed to stay home.

DepEd-7 Director, Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, has said he will talk to some school officials in Madridejos.

The Department of Interior and Local Government was the first to say it will investigate the incident, especially that no less than Madridejos Mayor Salvador Dela Fuente said that people who witnessed the event became uncontrollable.

Dela Fuente and Garcia have taken responsibility of the issue and have welcomed the DILG fact-finding investigation.

Madridejos was one of the destinations of the island tour, a project initiated by the Mactan Cebu International Airport in cooperation with the provincial government. — JMO (FREEMAN)