Eight tourists on the island of Boracay were arrested after being caught presenting a fake COVID-19 test result.
According to the Boracay provincial inter-agency task force, 4 of them were first caught after they entered the island on Friday and found out that the RT-PCR test results they used were fake.
On Saturday, 4 more were arrested after it was discovered that they also used a fake RT-PCR test result.
Based on the test results they showed, it allegedly came from Saint Luke’s Hospital in Metro Manila, but when checked, the suspects did not have the names of the hospital results issued.
The eight tourists were subjected to a 14-day quarantine at a facility in Kalibo town, Aklan.
They are set to be charged with violating RA 11332 or Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and Falsification of Documents.
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Boracay to permanently ban fakers of RT-PCR test results
Early this month, the Sanguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay, Aklan has already started the process of passing the law for the “permanent ban” of tourists entering the Boracay island resort using the fake negative COVID-19 RT PCR test result.
According to acting Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista, the SB has already begun its deliberation in a regular session held on Thursday to implement the said law.
According to the Aklan Provincial Government, up to 105 tourists have been caught violating safety and health protocols such as not wearing face masks. Up to 30 people were caught using fake RT PCR tests.
In a text message from acting mayor Bautista, he said that he himself spoke to the SB to pass the said local ordinance.
The Department of Tourism has previously charged tourists caught carrying fake RT PCR tests.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and the Local Government (DILG) has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest and prosecute those who are faking COVID-19 RT-PCR test results.
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