Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday hit the social media "influencers" who partied and flouted health protocols at a bar in the city, saying they "even had the audacity to post in social media their wanton violation of health and safety protocols."
Belmonte in a statement added that they were "oblivious to the fact that there are more transmissible variants now and public safety remains at risk."
This came after one of them posted a series of videos on his Instagram account showing themselves drinking alcohol, drinking and partying without social distancing, which have since gone viral and caught the attention of the local government.
Because of this, the local government issued a closure order against Ciso's Gastro Bar on Del Monte Ave., where the video was taken over the weekend.
The city's Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) also shut down the G-Side Bar in Tomas Morato, which was also caught violating various health protocols.
“We support economic recovery and job creation but these should not be at the expense of public health. We will not hesitate to close down establishments if and when we find out these businesses are venues of super spreader events,” Margie Santos, BPLD head, said.
Meanwhile, on July 9, the city's Task Force Disiplina and the city police district also apprehended several individuals operating bars and clubs during an inspection in barangays Paligsahan and Timog.
The lawmen arrested the club manager, employees and club guests of Chapparal KTV Ventures Inc., while they also rescued 10 female workers who were later turned over to the city police's Women's Desk.
Authorities also issued ordinance violation receipts to 55 employees of Baia Luna KTV Bar on Timog Avenue for violating public health protocols.
Under the list of local guidelines recently issued by Belmonte, bars, karaoke bars, clubs and concert halls are still not allowed to operate.
“Patuloy tayong magsasagawa ng operation at inspection sa mga establisimyentong ito dahil napakaraming violations ng mga ito, at hindi tayo titigil hangga’t maraming sumusuway sa ating protocols (We will continue our operation and inspection of these establishments that have violated a lot of health measures. We will not stop as long as many are still flouting our protocols),” Task Force Disiplina head Rannie Ludovica said.
"No one is exempted from the law. Any person who will violate our protocols will be apprehended or will face charges," Belmonte warned.