German envoy, 33 others held for drinking in bar

MANILA, Philippines — A German diplomat was among 34 people arrested in Makati on Friday night for violating quarantine protocols on curfew and social distancing.

According to a spot report from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), local police officers raided the Kartel Rooftop Bar at around 10 p.m. after seeing a Facebook Live video showing there was a drinking session.

Aside from German diplomat George Maue, other foreigners who were arrested were Chanhsavan Lexus Keoninh, Yongrack Choi, Akhgul Rakhat, Donghyun Kim, Melchert Christian, Speer Rober, Christoph Weber and Ryounseok Oh.

Police arrested Marichris de Geron, 29; Jacqueline Rose Arceo, 37; Thomas Kawpeng, 24; Edward Reyes, 28; Bernadette Atienza, 26; Maria Catherine Sindiong, 33; Orland Pajarillo, 35; Yvette Marie Velasco, 29; Sheena Barrameda, 34; Daniel Labudahon II, 33; Jerome Hidalgo, 33; Jan Camille Tanseco, 34; and John Michael Santos, 33.

Also arrested were Timothy Paul Pichay, 47; Aillene Solanoy, 30; Joy Ann Retardo, 30; Marianito Abella Jr., 45; Wilfredo Lucas, 57; Patricia Bay, 32; Maria Angela Atayde, 40; Eugene Richard Eusebio III, 40; Carlo Bodani, 27; Christine Anne Tibi, 33; Loriedel Nunez, 34; and Robert Michael Hernandez, 30.

All of them were released at around 1 a.m. yesterday after being issued ordinance violation receipts.

Makati has a curfew starting at 10 p.m.

In a statement yesterday, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said the curfew should be strictly followed “to lessen the exposure of our community towards the unseen enemy,” referring to the coronavirus.