‘Rich kids’

“As youngsters, my mother taught her children that while we might not be the smartest people around, we could be courteous, polite and considerate of others.”

—Zig Ziglar

By Alex P. Vidal

UNTIL now the police in Iloilo City have not yet identified and traced the so-called “rich kids” who allegedly violated the quarantine protocols for COVID-19 pandemic when the youngsters participated in a pool party at The Castle Hotel in Bonifacio Drive, City Proper on June 6.

“We don’t know yet, for now. But our investigators are on the hunt for their identities,” Police Major Francisco Paguia, Iloilo City Police Station 1, was quoted as saying.

Paguia has asked the public to help them identify the partygoers after the bar owner where the party was held reportedly refused to identify them.

It’s incredible that more than a month since the pool party was held, not a single “rich kid” among the partygoers has been identified.

When the news broke out, netizens were able to obtain a video clip of that pool party and the faces of most of those “rich kids” had been clearly captured while dancing and whooping it up in the lighted night swimming pool revelry.

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We also briefly saw the video clip and surmised most of them were no longer “kids.”

Parents would never allow their kids to be in a pool party at night during the pandemic without any escort or guardian.  

We also doubt if all of them were “rich.”

You don’t need to be rich to attend or to be present in a pool party. 

A pool party shouldn’t be attributed exclusively for the rich only. 

Assuming that all of them were “rich”, could this be the reason why none of them has been “invited” for investigation?

How did they determine that the partygoers were “rich”, in the first place?

If they were “poor kids” and caught swimming in the Iloilo River, would they have been arrested right away even without the presence of any video clip as evidence?

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We laud the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD-6) for their quick response in the recent oil spill in Iloilo City (Bo. Obrero and Lapuz districts), Dumangas town, and Buenavista, Guimaras.

Despite the brickbats the DOH in general has been getting these past weeks from cabinet officials, senators, and even local chief executives not satisfied with the DOH’s handling of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the DOH has proven that it is among the few government agencies that are actually very efficient and reliable when it comes to immediate and quality public service.

It’s so inspiring that the agency has set up a Quad Cluster Team to address nutrition, hygiene, sanitation and mental health issues that may arise at the evacuation centers, as reported by Joseph B.A. Marzan in the Daily Guardian on July 9.

“Medicines, water containers, hygiene kits, Aquatabs, mosquito nets and IEC materials have also been provided to affected individuals, Marzan’s report further said.

“Mental health issues will be addressed together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Red Cross.

“They have advised the public to avoid prolonged contact with the spilled oil to avoid skin reddening, edema and burning, which may worsen when exposed to the sun’s UV rays.

“They also warned of upper respiratory tract conditions caused by repeated exposure to fumes.”

“DOH-CHD-6 Health Emergency Management Services chief Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia said that they are also coordinating with other regional and local government offices.”

Sta. Lucia, in the same report, revealed they attended meetings with the Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas, also with City and (Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices), and had video teleconferences led by the Office of Civil Defense. 

They were able to deploy logistics within 24 hours, said Sta. Lucia.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)