Violators of the no-Christmas party rule this Yuletide season will be arrested, a top police official warned on Monday.
Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), reiterated that the holding of any party will be strictly prohibited since this is the guideline stipulated by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) amid concerns that Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) cases would spike up during the Holiday season.
“Yes… (because) parties are prohibited,” said Sinas when asked if those who would hold Christmas parties would be arrested.
Sinas said he has already issued a directive to all police commanders reiterating the order of the IATF.
But Sinas was quick to clarify that the holding of dinners is not prohibited for as long as this would follow the protocol issued by the IATF with regard to the maximum number of people present and the observance of physical distancing.
“(A) dinner is a party. But you have to observe the required (protocols). So I would leave it to the commanders for their decision on this. It is still the discernment of the commanders to implement,” said Sinas.
Sinas was dragged into a controversy in May this year over his birthday party at the height of the most strict lockdown measures in Metro Manila. During that time, he was the director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).