Vico shuts down Landers

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto has ordered the closure of a branch of one of the biggest supermarket chains for allegedly failing to enforce physical distancing measures among its customers.

“The operations of Landers Ugong branch were suspended for failure to implement minimum health safety standards,” Sotto said in a Facebook post on Tuesday night.

He posted photos of shoppers swarming along the aisles of the supermarket.

“Usually when we suspend businesses, we don’t announce the name because we don’t want them to have a bad publicity. But we only want their customers to be safe,” Sotto said.

The supermarket will be closed until Monday.

Sotto said Landers’ restaurant, barber shop, plant shop, pharmacy and parking lot would remain open for business.

The supermarket’s management, according to the mayor, has expressed readiness to improve their health and safety protocols.

As of Tuesday, Pasig recorded 1,359 cases of coronavirus disease  2019 (COVID-19) with 97 deaths and 679 recoveries.

NBI suspends work

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) main office suspended work yesterday as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.

NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor ordered the suspension of work to give way for disinfection until Sunday.

The operations of the NBI clearance center were also suspended. —Marc Jayson Cayabyab