Police have filed charges against a Navotas City family for holding a birthday party on May 14 while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was in place.
In a statement, Mayor Toby Tiangco said a total of 17 individuals, including the attendees, are facing charges for violating Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, R.A. 9721 and the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of the Community Quarantine before the prosecutor’s office.
This came about as 14 of them eventually tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), prompting the local government to place the street where the family lives under two-week lockdown.
Tiangco did not mince words in describing the family’s action as “reckless,” which “thwarted our efforts to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 and keep our people safe.”
“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 showed you flouted the quarantine order,” he said.
“The family’s utter disregard of safety regulations endangered their lives and all those living on H. Monroy,” he added.