Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — The Philippine National Police on Wednesday said it has apprehended 15 people at airports over the past nine days for falsifying their COVID-19 test results.
In a statement, the PNP said the individuals were caught from March 29 to April 6.
A list released to the media showed 14 were bound for either Davao or Zamboanga from Manila, while one traveled to Davao from Cebu.
It also indicated some of the suspects already arrived at their destinations. Some have been referred for inquest at the provincial prosecutor’s office, while others have been isolated at quarantine facilities pending their real swab test results.
Police said the 15 will be charged with falsification of public documents and violation of RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. If found guilty, they may be made to pay a fine of up to ₱50,000 each, or may be imprisoned for not less than a month but not more than six months.
“Let me reiterate to the public that using fake laboratory results poses a danger to everyone,” PNP Chief Gen. Debold Sinas said. “Our frontliners are risking their lives to save yours, a little bit of concern and cooperation is what we need to fight this unseen enemy.”
According to the Health department, the country now has over 819,000 COVID-19 cases, including more than 14,000 deaths and 646,000 recoveries.
