Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año vowed to confer with Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu to determine if other higher officials may be held liable for the failure of authorities to impose social distancing protocols at the Manila Bay Sands over the weekend.
In an interview over CNN Philippines, Año said he will discuss with Cimatu the course of action and will “check what went wrong.’’
“For now, mahirap kasing magsalita muna (it is difficult to say anything) but somehow, 'yun muna ang actions na ginawa ko (those are the initial actions I took)’’ Año said.
Año declared this is as a huge crowd trooped to the newly beautified Manila Bay shoreline that led to the relief of Manila Police District Station 5 (Ermita) chief Police Lt. Col. Ariel Caramoan.
The DILG chief stressed that authorities should have expected that a mammoth crowd would visit the area after their movement was restricted for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also lamented the lack of preparation on the opening of the Manila Bay Sands.
Año noted the lack of foresight stressing that the police should have been prepared for the influx of a large crowd since the DENR and the Manila government had advised its two-day opening.
He added that the "Manila LGU (local government unit)'' should also have prepared for this event.
The area was closed on Monday for continued rehabilitation work.
With Metro Manila under the general community quarantine (GCQ), Año appealed to the public to stay home when going out is unnecessary and to observe minimum health standards in public.