FIRST, the Poblacion girl created quite a ruckus when she skipped her quarantine at the Berjaya Makati Hotel, joined a drinking binge at Kampai, and later reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Various media reported that Gywneth Anne Chua infected some of the restaurant staff and other partygoers by just that one display of indiscretion. At least, she's pretty and sexy in her bikini photos on FB.
Chua's caper did not end with Makati City Hall closing down Berjaya Makati Hotel, with the Department of Tourism withdrawing its accreditation (as a quarantine hotel or as a regularly operating one?), and punishment for some of the hotel staff, etc. It also did not end with the Philippine National Police filing a complaint against Chua, her boyfriend, parents, etc. for violation of the law on health protocols during pandemic.
It did not end in Makati because Pasaway Girl's COVID-19 kamandag has reached Tanauan, Batangas.
Sabit sa party
This incident's connection with Batangas is thru model and aspiring politician Carlos Laurel of Tanauan, Batangas.
Laurel's family members are now worried that some low life who have monitored them with Chua in the internet would harm them. There has been an avalanche of criticisms and threats on Chua and the rest of her group for allegedly being super spreaders of COVID, and cybespace critics are most active and virulent.
This led Carlos Laurel to reveal that Gwyneth was really not invited to their party. Sa madaling sabi, sabit lang. Chua's boyfriend is a friend of Carlos' cousin, and that's why they were in the group dining at the restaurant in Barangay Poblacion, Makati.
Berjaya's side
Meanwhile, Hotel Berjaya said in a statement that the order by the Makati City Hall closing down Berjaya Makati Hotel’s operations based on the suspension order issued by the Department of Tourism is without legal basis.
"For one, the DOT order is not yet final as the hotel will appeal it within the 15-day period it is given. Meanwhile, the suspension is not in effect. Secondly, there is no law that penalizes a hotel for not reporting a guest who jumps quarantine. There is nothing in R.A. 13322 that is applicable to the hotel. Thirdly, we must be accorded due process and be allowed to explain before any penalty is imposed. We have not been given our day in court by the Makati City Hall," the hotel said in a statement.
Berjaya Hotel continued:
"On the operations level, if we close down the hotel immediately, where do we send our present quarantine guests? We have 18 guests who have tested positive and who have yet to be pulled out by the Bureau of Quarantine, and 80 who are in the middle of their quarantine.
"We also have around 20 quarantine guests per week coming in and have paid in advance. The inconvenience to the public is incalculable, unnecessary and preventable.
"The whole country is on war footing in effect against the pandemic. Every quarantine hotel, just like ours, serves a strategic purpose especially with the lack of rooms while the virus rampages throughout. To close down a quarantine hotel for no legal reason is to close down a hospital just when it is helping to win the war. There is no benefit to be gained by such regulatory posturing when national interest and public health are on the line."