MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday assigned the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Disease (JTF COVID) Shield to look into alleged violations of health measures, particularly recent mass gatherings in Manila and Parañaque City. Last week, the Christmas shopping rush caused a throng of people to go to Divisoria in Manila and Baclaran in Parañaque City. ADVERTISEMENTThe Catholic charismatic movement El Shaddai “Family Appointment” event on Saturday also drew hundreds of people to the House of Prayer located at the Mike Velarde-owned Amvel City of Faith in Parañaque City. The Parañaque City government will conduct its own investigation and require higher-ups from the El Shaddai to explain why it held the mass gathering where health rules were not observed. The weekly event was livestreamed through the YouTube account of the Velarde-owned media company Delta Broadcasting System.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 27, 2020 21:21 UTC