Recently, event producer Tim Yap on his 44th birthday was greeted by criticisms by Netizens after a TikTok video circulated online. In the video, Yap and his friends were seen mask-less while dancing to cultural Igorot music.
A Netizen criticized them as irresponsible and influencers for keeping a secret to the public that the attendees from the party were infected.
Instagram user with handle @sparklikethelight said: “How irresponsible. You guys throw a party, and based on the tea I’ve heard people were infected and you guys are keeping it hush-hush. Entitled celebrities and “influencers”.”
Yap denied the Netizen’s accusation and replied: “@sparklikethelight The tea is fake news. I hope you don’t base your truth on an anonymous post. Everyone in the group is negative. That is a fact.”
Yap previously said that he and his guests underwent a COVID test before heading to the City of Pines.
And he just wanted to promote the local tourism in Baguio.
The joint participation of guests in one cultural dance was one of the violations of health protocol, according to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong.
Magalong and his wife likewise attended the event on January 17, as their way of gratitude to Yap for helping in the promotion of tourism in Baguio.
The Local Government of Baguio City had determined the personalities who violated the health protocols and noticed three violations based on the photographs that came out and their interaction with Yap and The Manor Hotel.
It included the City Ordinance 45 – the “not wearing of a mask, City Ordinance 46 – the physical distancing, and the DTI, DOLE about the workplace convention and control of Covid-19, according to Mayor Magalong.
The personalities who violated Baguio City Ordinances 45 and 46 would be fined 1000 pesos for each violation.
Magalong also fined his wife after being captured without a mask during the event.
But who will investigate and punish the Mayor of Baguio City, who was the contact tracing czar of the government who also attended the party in question?
DILG and National Task Force on Covid-19 had no response for this, so far.
But according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, it is not IATF who imposes sanctions but the LGU itself through its ordinances.
Roque also said that President Duterte has respect and trust in the Mayor, and he has no liability if he did not violate any health protocol during the party.
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism insisted that they were not part of the party but had already investigated it.
The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against Covid-19 or HPAAC also appealed to personalities to refrain and suppress from violating health protocols in any circumstances.
