What official line? It's just bullshit spread by a group of selfish business owners who fear going under if the mongers stay away.
The truth of the matter is this :-
There was a foreigner arrested in the raid. However, he managed to bail out by paying a substantial sum to the cops. (I am not sure of the final sum paid... but rumors put it at 250K pesos).
The arrest of a customer has made several business owners worried coz if people start staying away for fear of being arrested..... many of these business would go bust. Hence there is a concerted effort by these business owners and their managers to spread false news that everything is as per normal in AC.
It IS NOT normal situation in AC especially the Perimeters bars..... which is getting a lot more police visits than ever before.
Fields ave is a ghost town and the beggars and vendors are desperate.
Gangs of beggar kids and LBs are blatantly snatching and thieving in broad daylight on tourist victims..... usually on those lone rangers. Even seasoned experienced mongers are not spared.
Yesterday morning a big sized black American was leaving the Phillys Sports bar after his breakfast when he was bumped by a LB who then walked away briskly.... the American immediately checked his pocket and started going after the LB..... before he could even get near the LB.... another LB tripped him and as the black guy fell to the ground a few more LBs appeared and helped themselves to his pockets. They all scooted off by the time the black guy managed to recover. He discovered he had lost his cellphone, cash & wallet to the LBs..... luckily for him he had some emergency cash stashed inside his Bermudas hidden pocket.