San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Thursday, June 27, apologized to the public over the chaos during the traditional "basaan" (water-dousing), as he vowed to identify and punish the residents who became unruly during the activity.
"Basaan" was part of the Wattah! Wattah! Festival 2024 commemorating the feast of the city's patron saint, St. John the Baptist on June 24.
Mayor Francis Zamora
"Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin at pasensya sa mga nangyaring ‘yan noong panahon ng aming kapistahan. Alam niyo po ako ay hindi papayag na ang imahe at reputasyon ng lungsod ng San Juan at ng aming kapistahan ay masira ng dahil sa iilang mamamayang nanggulo (I am expressing my sincerest apologies for the events during the conduct of our fiesta. I will not allow unruly citizens to tarnish the image and reputation of San Juan City and of our festival)," Zamora said in a media conference.
He said the city government is doing everything it can to identify those who violated the city's ordinances regarding the fiesta and the Revised Penal Code.
He explained the city government, together with the San Juan City Police, are already reviewing photos and videos of some unruly San Juaneños dousing water on motorists and bystanders despite telling them not to do so.
Under San Juan's City Ordinance No. 51, series of 2018, individuals that are proven guilty of being unruly during the celebration of the fiesta could be penalized with a fine of P2,500 to P5,000, and be imprisoned for up to six days.
Zamora assured victims that the city government will assist them in filing complaints against unruly citizens.
“Hinihikayat ko po ang ating mga mamamayan na pumunta sa aking opisina, lalo na 'yung mga naging biktima. Sapagkat mas gusto ko po na talagang pumunta sila rito at sila ang mag-file ng kaso direct po sa ating mga piskal upang Revised Penal Code mismo ang magamit sa kanila kung saan mas malaki ang magiging parusa sa kanila, maari silang makulong (I am urging our citizens who were victimized to proceed to my office to file charges. I would like them to personally file cases directly before our fiscal so that they can be penalized under the Revised Penal Code for heavier penalties)," Zamora said.
The city's Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office earlier said it has already received reports of the alleged chaos and unruliness of residents during the activity.
"Kami ay aktibong nangangalap ng ebidensya ng kaguluhan sa nasabing kaganapan. Ang mga isinumiteng video ay sinusuri upang matukoy ang mga lumabag sa City Ordinance No. 51, series of 2018, at iba pang umiiral na batas. Kung kayo ay may mga pruweba ng paglabag sa batas noong Hunyo 24, maaaring isumite ang ebidensyang videos o photos sa City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office ng Lungsod upang ito ay maproseso at malaman ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga lumabag (We are actively collecting evidence of the chaos during the event. All submitted videos are being scrutinized to determine the individuals who violated City Ordinance No. 51, series of 2018, and other laws. If you have photo or video evidences of people violating the ordinance on July 24, you may submit it at the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office for processing and identification of violators)," it noted.
Muriatic acid
During the media briefing, San Juan City Police Chief Col. Francis Allan Reglos said that a motorist was arrested after throwing muriatic acid to a resident who doused him with water while cruising along Aurora Boulevard in Barangay Salapan.
The resident filed physical injury charges against the rider.
“Yung nag-iisang complaint na nakarating sa amin ay 'yung nag-wisik ng muriatic acid…Agad naman inaresto yung nag-wisik ng muriatic…Naikulong na namin siya sa aming detention center at kahapon, nakapagpiyansa na (So far, the only complaint that we have received was about the individual who threw muriatic acid during the fiesta...We immediately arrested him...He was detained but was able to bail out)," Reglos said.
Sabotage?
The mayor also explained the possibility that there could be individuals not living in San Juan who attended the fiesta just to sabotage the celebration.
“Unang una, hindi naman natin ma-identify kung sino ba ang mga pumupunta sa aming kapistahan. Open to all naman po ang aming kapistahan…So potentially, open to sabotage din talaga ang mga ganitong selebrasyon (First of all, we cannot identify everyone who attended the festivities especially because our fiesta is open to everyone…So potentially, this kind of celebration is open to sabotage)," Zamora said.
"I'm not categorically saying na posible nga na may sabotahe but of course, we are not discounting the possibility na meron talagang intensyon na guluhin ang ating kapistahan (I'm not categorically saying that there could be possible sabotage, but of course, we are not discounting the possibility that there could really be an intention to ruin our festival)," he added.