THE epidemiological and surveillance unit officer of Lapu-Lapu City saw “nothing wrong” with inviting around 50 people to her birthday party on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021.
Mary Chan-Carungay said she only invited members of her family, including her brother Mayor Junard Chan and his wife Cindi King-Chan; her husband’s family; and officemates at the City Health Department, including members of the contact tracing team.
She told Superbalita Cebu that minimum health protocols were observed, saying the party was held in her house.
She added that her colleagues at work are regularly swabbed and have tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Of course, we followed protocol during the party. But the photos were taken while some of us were eating, so, of course, we took off our face masks,” Carungay said in Cebuano.
The photos of that gathering were posted on the Facebook page of Lapu-Lapu Untold Stories, which drew some flak.
“Okay lang po ba ito? The mayor just released an announcement discouraging parties in time of Sinulog and the quincentennial (to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the country). Pero kapatid po ng Mayor ang nagpaparty (But the mayor’s sister is having a party),” one netizen commented.
However, one netizen accused the page administrator of politicizing the event.
SunStar Cebu tried to get the mayor’s side on the matter, but to no avail. (GCM / JKV)