Navotas police charge 17 for spike in virus cases
Respondents attended party linked to spread of COVID-19 in street
The Navotas City police have filed charges against 17 individuals who attended a party in May that led to 14 cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on a street.
In a complaint filed in the Office of the City Prosecutor last week, the suspects were charged with violating Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (serious disobedience upon person in authority), Republic Act No. 11332 or the Law on Reporting Communicable Diseases, Republic Act No. 9271 or the Quarantine Act of 2004 and the omnibus guidelines on the implementation of community quarantine.
Contact tracing conducted by city officials showed that the 17 attended a birthday party on H. Monroy Street in Barangay Navotas West on May 14. At that time, Metro Manila was still under enhanced community quarantine and mass gatherings were banned.
A witness said in his sworn affidavit that he heard karaoke machines and observed that the owners of the house were having a celebration.
Six of the attendees later tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing confirmatory swab tests, with one of them dying of the disease. The party is believed to have caused a spike in cases in Barangay Navotas West, from 6 in May to 24 in June, prompting authorities to place the area on lockdown for two weeks.
38 cases in village
The village currently has 38 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with three deaths and 25 recoveries. Navotas now has 694 positive cases.
Mayor Toby Tiangco welcomed the filing of charges and warned residents that any violation of quarantine protocols would be investigated and could lead to their arrest.
“The family’s utter disregard of safety regulations endangered their lives and all those living [on] H. Monroy [Street]. Their reckless act thwarted our efforts to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 and keep our people safe,” he said.
“Let this serve as a stern warning to all violators: Even if we don’t catch you in the act, we will file criminal charges against you if investigation [shows] you flouted the quarantine order,” he added.