The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Monday, August 31, has vowed to dig deeper into the “despedida” party for a former Batangas City fire marshal which violated quarantine protocols in the midst of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a GMA News report, videos of the August 21 party held in a hotel in the province for outgoing Batangas City Fire Marshal Elaine Evangelista was shown with the BFP personnel in attendance.
The personnel of the Batangas City fire station were caught on camera dancing without masks and not observing social distancing.
BFP chief Director Jose Embang Jr. said that an investigation is currently on-going.
“Noong August 26 kasi, nagpadala na ng memo (memorandum) ang Civil Service at ang DILG kay Secretary Eduardo Año about nga itong nangyaring despedida dito (On August 26 the Civil Service Commission and the DILG sent a memo to Secretary Eduardo Año,’’ Embang said.
Upon seeing the video, Embang said that they were indeed the BFP men in the area since their pictures are shown in their records.
Evangelista was named as the new chief of the Biñan, Laguna fire station but her appointment was rescinded following the controversy.