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60 caught faking RT-PCR results at Davao airport since Nov.

By Che Palicte

March 31, 2021, 3:54 pm

DAVAO CITY – A total of 60 individuals have been arrested since November for presenting falsified reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results upon their arrival at the Davao International Airport (DIA).

In a statement on Wednesday, the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) said from November 13 last year to March 29 this year, 32 cases have been filed, 25 others have yet to be lodged through regular filing, and three are up for inquest.

The individuals are facing charges for violating Republic Act 11332, or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act”, for not declaring their health status.

Head of PSSCC, Angel Sumagaysay, said most of the apprehended individuals were travelers from Manila and Cebu, and five of them were uniformed personnel.

“We already filed cases. We do not exempt anyone because you are putting the city at risk. They will be facing criminal charges and possibly administrative cases,” Sumagaysay said.

The Davao Aviation Security Unit, Airport Health Monitoring Team, and Davao City Police Office have been consistently monitoring Davao-bound passengers and verifying the authenticity of the documents they present.

On March 23, the local government reinstated its City Ordinance 0477-21, requiring individuals to submit a negative RT-PCR test result before gaining entry into the city via the DIA.

In a previous radio interview, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte reminded Davao-bound passengers not to falsify their documents to avoid putting themselves and other people in danger.

“If you presented a fake RT-PCR, you will be arrested immediately. You will pay for your testing and wait for the result. If you tested negative, you will be directed for an inquest, right away. If positive, you will be sent to the isolation facility while filing of the case will follow,” she said. "It’s just the same. You will pay for securing fake RT-PCR results. It’s much better if you pay it to secure a valid negative RT-PCR result." (PNA)

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