A total of 54 individuals tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after an improvised pool party and drinking sessions were organized by residents of Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon in Quezon City from May 9 to May 11.

According to Mayor Joy Belmonte, the improvised pool party was arranged by the residents on Mother’s Day, May 9.

“May 9 to 11 nagkaroon ng improvised pool party, meaning inflatable pool ang ginamit; meron pong diskuhan, may sayawan, may inuman, may videoke kumpleto po, at walang nagsusuot ng mask (May 9 to 11 they had an improvised pool party, meaning inflatable pool was used; there was a disco, dancing, drinking, videoke, and no one wore mask),” Belmonte said in an interview with DZMM on Monday.

“Ayon doon sa mga kwento kwento ng mga ininterview ng contact tracers ay ang fire truck po ng barangay ang siyang naglagay ng tubig doon sa improvised swimming pool, ang inuman po ay naganap sa covered court (According to the stories of those interviewed by contact tracers, the fire truck of the barangay put water in the improvised swimming pool, the drinking took place in the covered court),” she added.

However, Barangay Chairman Feliciano Dela Cruz clarified that the water of the improvised pool did not come from the fire truck of the barangay.

“Lahat ng nadi-dispatch na sasakyan ng barangay, may record ‘yan sa ating administrator. Nakausap natin ang administrator, wala siyang record na nai-dispatch (All barangay vehicles that are dispatched have a record with our administrator. We spoke to the administrator, he has no record of the fire truck being dispatched),” Dela Cruz said in an interview with DZRH on Monday.

The city mayor said no one reported the mass gathering.

“Hindi ni-report sa atin, nalaman na lang po natin sapagkat may isang nagpositibo noong May 11 at syempre as part of our protocols pinuntahan ng mga contact tracers ‘yung lugar at dun na lang sa pagcoconduct ng mga interview sa mga taong bayan saka pa lang nila nalaman na nagkaroon pala ng three-day fiesta celebration (It was not reported to us, we only found out because someone tested positive on May 11 and, of course as part of our protocols, the contact tracers went to the place and conducted interviews with the residents, only there and then they found out that there was a 3-day fiesta celebration),” she said.

The City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) immediately conducted contact tracing and mass testing of the 610 residents of the barangay.

The community has been under lockdown since May 14.

Mayor Belmonte said all residents who organized and joined the said gatherings will be issued with ordinance violation receipt for defying health protocols such as wearing of face masks, social distancing, and the ban on non-essential mass gatherings.

Mayor Belmonte already issued a show cause order to barangay chairman Feliciano Dela Cruz.

The city Mayor also said they will file appropriate charges against the Home Owners Association (HOA) president and all individuals responsible for the said gatherings.