San Juan apologizes over unruly 'wattah, wattah' participants

Firemen train down their water hoses on motorists as San Juan City celebrates the annual Wattah Wattah Festival on Monday, June 24, 2024, to honor its patron saint John the Baptist. The local government announced road closures for the parade. SANDRA AGUINALDO/GMA Integrated News

The local government of San Juan City apologized over the reported chaos and inconveniences brought by the traditional “basaan” during the annual “Wattah Wattah Festival” last June 24.

“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin at pasensya sa mga nangyaring ‘yan noong panahon ng aming kapistahan. Alam niyo po ako ay hindi papayag na ang imahe at reputasyon ng lungsod ng San Juan at ng aming kapistahan ay masira ng dahil sa iilang mamamayang nanggulo,” said San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora in a press briefing on Thursday.

(I’m very sorry for what happened during our festival. I will not allow anyone to tarnish the image and reputation of San Juan City and of our festival just because of those unruly participants.)

“Sisiguraduhin ko na ang lahat niyan ay makasuhan ng nararapat na mga kaso base sa aming mga ordinansa at ganun din base sa Revised Penal Code upang sila po ay matuto ng leksyon,” he added.

(I will make sure that appropriate charges will be filed against them based on our ordinance and the Revised Penal Code.)

Zamora said that authorities are now looking into the videos and photos that circulated online that show alleged unruliness from the residents as they water down innocent passersby, even those inside vehicles.

The said tradition is part of the celebration of the city’s patron saint, Saint John the Baptist.

The mayor pointed out that the City Ordinance No. 51, series of 2018 provides that unruly behaviors during the festival could be penalized with a fine of P2,500 to P5,000, with up to six days of imprisonment.

According to the local police, only one complaint for physical injury has been filed so far after a suspect allegedly threw muriatic acid to an individual.

“Yung nagi-isang complaint na nakarating sa amin ay yung nag-wisik ng muriatic acid…Agad naman inaresto yung nag-wisik ng muriatic…Naikulong na namin siya sa aming detention center at kahapon, nakapagpiyansa na,” said San Juan City Police chief Col. Francis Allan Reglos.

(The lone complaint we have received so far was the one who threw muriatic acid to someone…We immediately arrested him…He was detained but was able to bail out.)

But Zamora said that not all who committed unruly behavior during the feast were city residents as there could be outsiders who joined the celebration.

“Unang una, hindi naman natin ma-identify kung sino ba ang mga pumupunta sa aming kapistahan. Open to all naman po ang aming kapistahan…So potentially, open to sabotage din talaga ang mga ganitong selebrasyon,” the mayor said.

(First of all, we cannot identify everyone who attended the festivities. Because our festival is open to everyone…So potentially, this kind of celebration is open to sabotage.)

The mayor assured victims that the local government could help them in filing complaints.

“Hinihikayat ko po ang ating mga mamamayan na pumunta sa aking opisina, lalo na yung mga naging biktima. Sapagkat mas gusto ko po na talagang pumunta sila rito at sila ang mag-file sila ng kaso direct po sa ating mga piskal upang Revised Penal Code mismo ang magamit sa kanila kung saan mas malaki ang magiging parusa sa kanila, maari silang makulong,” said Zamora.

(I encourage everyone, especially the victims, to come to my office. I would like them to personally file a case before our fiscal so that they can be penalized under the Revised Penal Code for heavier penalties.)

The  City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office also released earlier an apology for the incident. —NB, GMA Integrated News

This article San Juan apologizes over unruly 'wattah, wattah' participants was originally published in GMA News Online.