97 held in Pasay bar raids

MANILA, Philippines — At least 97 persons were arrested during raids on two high-end KTV bars in Pasay City on Friday night.

According to a report from the Southern Police District (SPD)’s intelligence division, those arrested were drinking in public while not observing physical distancing.

Under the community quarantine, bars are not supposed to serve alcohol and are supposed to observe the city’s curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Police raided the Matrix Club along Macapagal Boulevard at around 11:30 p.m. and arrested 19 foreigners – 13 males and six females – and two Filipinos.

They also arrested 18 female employees, three waiters and three security guards.

At the nearby Club 78, eight foreigners – six males and two females – were arrested along with 17 customer care assistants; 25 waiters, bartenders, engineers and maintenance personnel; and two security guards.

“During the operation, the suspects were having drinking sessions in different rooms and they were not observing social distancing,” the report read.

The suspects were also not wearing face masks, police said.

The raiding team confiscated two firearms from the bars’ security personnel and P1.77 million in cash.