Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1) — Berjaya Makati Hotel issued an apology on Saturday for failing to keep one of its guests in the quarantine facility, stressing this was the “only incident of its kind” under its watch.
“Berjaya Makati Hotel (The Berjaya) confirms the recent reports concerning one of its guests who violated government-imposed quarantine protocols by prematurely departing from quarantine before having been tested,” it said in a statement.
“The management sincerely apologizes for failing to stop the guest from jumping her quarantine,” the hotel also said. “This was the only incident of its kind in the nearly two years that we have served as a quarantine hotel.”
The embattled hotel also assured the public the incident will not happen again.
It said that any employee found to be responsible for breaching the quarantine rules “will be dealt with severely to deter a repeat of what happened.”
The management added that it is cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.
RELATED: Govt agencies continue probe on alleged quarantine violator
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat earlier said the coronavirus-positive woman who returned from the United States will face charges, which could be a fine, imprisonment, or both.
READ: Infected traveler to face charges for skipping quarantine
The quarantine violator not only went to Poblacion in Makati City but also attended other parties, infecting some of her close contacts, Puyat said.
The woman is now under isolation in another hotel, which Puyat did not disclose.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) also said the hotel is liable for violating the mandatory quarantine rules set for arriving travelers.
Puyat said the DOT would wait for the hotel’s explanation before deciding on whether to penalize the establishment or suspend its accreditation.
