CEBU CITY—Cebu 5th District Rep. Duke Frasco maintained that there was nothing irregular in the sporting event that he attended last July 10 in Camotes Island.
Frasco finally broke his silence after an anonymous complaint was filed against him before the Department of Interior and Local Government-Central Visayas after health protocols were allegedly violated during the event dubbed as "TeamFrasco Friendship Ride/Run."
In a statement, Frasco emphasized that the event was held at the time when Cebu province was under a more relaxed Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
The event was covered with all necessary permits and approvals from the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Francisco, Camotes, Frasco said.
“Moreover, there was full coordination by the event organizers and marshals with the LGU, local PNP, barangay officials, barangay tanods, and barangay health workers to assist in the implementation of health and safety protocols and guidelines,” said Frasco.
Frasco said the event was held in open-air beach front in Barangay Santiago which was capable to accommodate 12,500 people but only 667 bikers and runners participated in the activity.
Including spectators and organizers, the number of people in the event was within the 50 percent allowable capacity under an MGCQ status, Frasco said.
Participants were also required to fill out health declaration forms and undergo temperature checks before the event, as well as wear masks during the event, Frasco added.
Raffling of prizes was also held during the event and as part of the closing ceremony, performances and dance tributes by various groups.
Frasco admitted joining in one of the dance tributes as a way of showing his appreciation to the efforts of the organizers.
Frasco added that the expenses incurred during the event “were all personally sponsored and no government funds were used.”
Frasco likewise shot down allegations that the even caused the COVID-19 cases to shoot up.
“Records from the Department of Health and the LGU will show that in the 15-day period following, from July 11 to 25, there was no significant increase of positive cases. On the contrary, the 15-day period subsequent the event showed either zero new cases or single digit cases, with most days having only one or two new cases,” Frasco said.
Frasco stressed that the event was meant to promote local and sports tourism and “was not the first Friendship Ride/Run event in the district and, certainly, will not be the last.”
Frasco assured that he will cooperate in the investigation even if he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.