The Interior Department believed that police and other officials of the city government of Manila could have prepared more ahead of the public viewing of the new “white sand beach” in Manila Bay.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año admitted he observed the lack of preparation on the side of the enforcers, as visitors crowded the area without regard to the COVID-19 distancing protocols.
“Sa tingin ko, kulang ‘yung preparations para ma-enforce natin ‘yung minimum health standards. Sana napaghandaan nang husto.”
He highlighted the mandate of the PNP to ensure orderliness in any public spaces, especially the launching of the controversial white sands in Manila Bay.
“Ang pinaka-immediate kasi dapat na magpe-prepare diyan, ‘yung Philippine National Police, being the frontliners, and the enforcers… the Philippine National Police should have prepared for that,” he added.
[In my opinion, we lacked preparations to enforce the minimum health standards. We should have prepared better. The PNP, being the frontliners and enforcers, are the ones who should have immediately prepared for that.]
The DILG chief suggested that PNP should have deployed additional personnel in the area. More barriers should have also been placed around the site, he added.
The Manila City government also had a big role in ensuring the crowd can be controlled amid concerns of COVID-19 transmission in public spaces.
The commander of the Ermita Police Station has since been relieved from his post for failure to enforce strict health and security measures to control the crowds.
