BY JEL SANTOS
Forty partygoers, including five German diplomats, were arrested for drinking liquor in public without observing social distancing and face masks in a Makati City bar Friday.
Makati police received a report from the Mayor’s Office that the Kartel Rooftop Bar in Barangay Poblacion had individuals violating local ordinances and health protocols.
Lawmen mounted a raid and spotted the five diplomats and the 35 other partygoers drinking liquor without observing social distancing and not wearing face masks.
They were arrested and taken to the Makati Central Police Station in Barangay San Antonio for verification and issuance of citation tickets by the Makati Public Safety Department.
The five German diplomats insisted they could not be arrested and given citation tickets as they have diplomatic immunity.
The Makati PSD still issued them citation tickets for their violations, saying they are not immune to such.
The names of all the partygoers were not immediately made available.
One of the partygoers resisted arrest and tried to pick a fight with policemen. He even dropped names of local politicians, claiming he has close ties with them, and kept on arguing with policemen in front of the police station.
Some of the partygoers were so intoxicated that they can no longer stand up well. (Jel Santos)
Makati Ordinance No. 2020-152 that took effecr last July 14 prohibits drinking liquor outside one’s residence during the imposition of state of calamity due to the public health emergency brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police obtained a video showing the partygoers in a drinking binge while not wearing face masks and not observing social distancing at the bar.
They were released shortly after they were given citation tickets to be paid at the City Hall totaling P2,000 each – not wearing face masks (P1,000) and not practicing social distancing (P1,000).
