BY JOSEPH PEDRAJAS
Authorities on Saturday ordered the closure of a night club in Quezon City after it was caught operating in violation of various ordinances amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The local government served a closure order against Guilly’s Island night club in Tomas Morato after police arrested 95 individuals who were caught drinking alcohol inside the club during curfew hours.
According to local government guidelines, it can only operate as a restaurant and cannot serve alcohol.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said the operation, which was held around 1:20 a.m. of Saturday, came after a city councilor informed them of its ongoing operation during the curfew hours, which is also a violation of the city ordinance.
The local government said that the establishment will be closed while the Business Permits and Licensing Office “further evaluate[s]” its violation and decides “the necessary punishment” to impose against it.
On the other hand, the QPCD said, the arrested individuals will face multiple charges for the violation of RA 11332 (Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases); City Ordinance 2936 or the mandatory use of face masks in public places; and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority, among others.
Mayor Joy Belmonte issued a warning against other establishments, particularly resto bars, night clubs and karaoke bars, that they will face the same fate should they “continue to operate amid the general community quarantine.”
“Binabalaan natin ang mga may-ari ng bar at nightclub na itigil na ang kanilang ilegal na ginagawa dahil mahuhuli at mahuhuli namin kayo (I am warning all bars and nightclub owners to stop now if they are operating illegally as we will surely catch them),” Belmonte said.
“Inilalagay niyo sa panganib ang buhay ng inyong mga customer at iba pang mga residente dahil ang pag-inom sa publiko ay isa sa mga rason sa pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating lungsod,” she added.
“Nais man nating simulan ang muling pagbuhay ng ekonomiya ng lungsod, hindi natin maaaring isantabi ang mga isyung pangkalusugan na maaaring makaapekto sa karamihan,” she said.
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