Makati City Mayor Abby Binay ordered Skye Bar in Barangay Bel-Air to stop operations for violating quarantine protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On the orders of Mayor Abby Binay, we have closed down Skye Bar in Barangay Bel-Air for illegally operating and violating laws and protocols aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Makati City government spokesperson Michael Camiña said in a statement on Tuesday, June 30.
Authorities on Monday raided Skye Bar located in the posh Salcedo Village and arrested over 100 Filipinos and foreigners, including celebrity KC Montero, for violating social distancing rules. The Makati Police also detained the bar’s owner Felix Maramba.
Montero, however, insisted that they observed social distancing inside the bar and restaurant.
“I think para sa mga tao na papunta diyan [those who want to go there], I think what they thought was it was open. So you’re allowed to go. And on top of that everybody was practicing social distancing. The tables were wide apart, were far apart,” he told reporters.
Under the general community quarantine (GCQ), bars are not allowed to reopen, and mass gatherings are still banned in Metro Manila. NCR remains under GCQ until July 15, as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday night.
Also read: Duterte announces areas under ECQ, GCQ, MGCQ until July 15
According to Camiña, those arrested would face charges for violating Makati Mayor Abby Binay Executive Order No. 11 or the GCQ guidelines in the city, the Makati Revenue Code, Republic Act No. 11332 or the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases, and other related guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The Makati City government spokesperson reminded bar operators that are still not allowed to reopen. Meanwhile, other establishments should submit a Notice of Reopening to Makati’s Business Permits and Licensing Office within three days after they resume operations.
“As we have repeatedly warned, we will not tolerate those who willfully put themselves and others in harm’s way by violating laws and protocols intended to curb the pandemic and promote a COVID-free city and nation,” Camiña said.
As of Monday, June 29, Makati City has recorded 1,036 confirmed cases, 95 of which were fatal. A total of 603 patients have already recovered.
The Philippines meanwhile, already has 36,438 cases, including 1,255 deaths and 9,956 recoveries, as of Monday.