Cases filed in connection to Wattah Wattah Festival

Cases have been filed against two individuals involved in the recent Wattah  Wattah Festival in San Juan City after they inconvenienced passersby by spraying water during the celebrations.

Among those who filed a complaint was a delivery rider who filed cases of unjust vexation and slander against a resident of San Juan, after video footage showed two individuals spewing water on the rider which he said damaged his phone.

The rider asked not to be drenched, but the residents still poured water on him. The video showed that he pushed a resident's hand away, but locals responded with a blow to his helmet.

“Nagsabi po ako na, ‘Boss huwag po muna kasi mababasa po ‘yung cellphone ko.’  ‘Yung cellphone ko gamit ko po ‘yun sa pang araw-araw. Ngayon hindi po ako makakapag-deliver kasi nasira po,” the rider said in a report by  Vonne Aquino on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(I told him, ‘Boss, not now because my cellphone will get wet.’ I use my cell phone every day. Now I can no longer deliver because it was damaged.)

The resident facing the charges declined to comment on the matter.

A couple also lodged complaints before Barangay Batis due to the inconvenience caused by the drenching, but the matter was settled.

The San Juan local government said two people were charged, while three faced complaints for violating ordinances. Two were charged with coercion, but the charges were withdrawn.

A viral video also showed a man sticking his tongue out while spewing water on riders traversing the street but San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said that based on the video there were no ordinances violated.

“Wala naman  po sa ating ordinansa na ang pagdila o ‘yung pagwa-water gun ay isang  violation (There are no ordinances against sticking your tongue out or  using a water gun),” he said in the same report. No complaints have been lodged against the individual.

“Kailangan po mayroon tayong  private complainant para mai-file po ang kaso dito po sa ating  Prosecutor’s Office (There needs to be a private complainant so that  charges can be filed before the Prosecutor’s Office),” Zamora said.

A San Juan city ordinance prohibits individuals from forcibly opening vehicles to drench passengers. They are also not allowed to clamber on top or shake vehicles.

The local government unit said that in future Wattah Wattah Festivals, they would designate areas where water can be sprayed. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News