By Jel Santos
The local government unit (LGU) of Makati City on Tuesday (June 30) reiterated that bars are not yet allowed to operate under current guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
This came after Makati Police raided the Skye Bar located at the 18th floor of M1 Tower in Barangay Bel-Air on Sunday night (June 28) for violating social distancing, after they received a tip from concerned citizens about mass gathering at the bar.
“We strongly remind owners of bars in Makati City that they are not allowed to operate under current IATF guidelines, and that the city government requires all business establishments to submit a Notice of Re-Opening to the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office within three days after reopening,” Makati LGU spokesperson Atty. Michael “Don” Camina said in a statement.
The notice, according to him, may be submitted using Makati BPLO portal (bit.ly/MakatiBPLOReopening), the city’s website (www.makati.gov.ph), and the Makatizen App.
The Makati LGU will not tolerate such actions that will endanger others by violating laws and protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Camina said. “As we have repeatedly warned, we will not tolerate those who wilfully put themselves and others in harm’s way by violating laws and protocols intended to curb the pandemic and promote a COVID-free city and nation.”
Camina urged law-abiding citizens to be vigilant and report to the city government, through hotline 168 or Makatizen App, any person or establishment violating the law.
“On the orders of Mayor Abby Binay, we have closed down Skye Bar in Barangay Bel-Air for illegally operating and violating laws and protocols aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19. Last June 28, authorities apprehended around 100 guests inside the bar drinking liquor and ignoring social distancing rules. Charges have been filed against them for violating Executive Order No. 11, the Makati Revenue Code, RA (Republic Act No.) 11332, and related IATF guidelines,” he said.
RA 11332 is the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Miranda Rights read to violators
Meanwhile, Makati Police Investigation Unit chief and assistant chief of police for Operations Major Gideon Ines Jr. clarified that the more than 100 people they apprehended at a bar in Makati City were properly arrested, after speculations surfaced on social media that the arresting officers of Makati Police did not Mirandize or inform the nabbed individuals of their legal rights during the apprehension.
“I actually took a microphone and told them that we were arresting them for violating social distancing. Then my men and I told each one of them about their Miranda Rights,” he told the Manila Bulletin.
“What we did was in accordance with the law. It is our SOP (standard operating procedure) to inform what law/s they violated, and their Miranda Rights,” the chief investigator added.
On Monday afternoon (June 29), the Makati City Police filed charges against celebrity KC Montero, his wife, and 119 other individuals they found at the Skye Bar for violating RA 11332 and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code on resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.