A man was arrested for hurling muriatic acid during the traditional “basaan” at the “Wattah Wattah” festival in San Juan City.
According to Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras,” the victim was just watching the festivities on the sidelines.
“Nilublob ko yung mukha ko sa balde para maano lang yung hapdi at sakit ng mata ko. Medyo iba yung paningin ko parang medyo malabo,” the victim said.
(I dipped my face into the bucket to relieve the soreness and the pain in my eyes. My eyesight is a bit blurry.)
The report added that the suspect was arrested and charged for physical injury.
Philippine National Police’s investigation showed that the suspect brought muriatic acid because of his hate towards participants of the annual festival that celebrates San Juan City’s patron saint, Saint John the Baptist.
“Yung mga past years ng festival ay nababasa siya, nasasaktan. So parang naghanda na siya,” said San Juan City Police chief Coronel Francis Allan Reglos.
(In the past years, he always gets wet and hurt. So he prepared this time to take revenge.)
But the suspect was later released on bail, said Reglos.
Meanwhile, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora apologized for the chaos during the festivities, noting that the local government is ready to assist other victims in filing complaints.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin at pasensya sa mga nangyaring ‘yan noong panahon ng aming kapistahan,” said Zamora in a press briefing.
(I’m very sorry for what happened during the festival.)
Under City Ordinance No. 51, series of 201, unruly behaviors during the festival could be penalized with a fine of P2,500 to P5,000, with up to six days of imprisonment.
Further, Zamora said that he is not ruling out possible sabotage from outsiders during the festival.
“I’m not categorically saying may sabotage (I’m not categorically saying that there was a sabotage), but I’m also not ruling it out,” he said.—Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
