The local Inter-Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has intercepted on separate occasions 10 inbound passengers at the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) with fake Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test results.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, who chairs the local IATF-EID, said Monday that eight of the 10 were intercepted Saturday upon arrival from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Salazar said the eight passengers were issued citation tickets for the payment of a PHP5,000 administrative fine each and were sent back Sunday to Manila, their place of origin, at their own expense.
Before their return flight, they spent the night in a local hotel, also at their own expense, according to Salazar.
She said the other two passengers arrived at ZIA Sunday afternoon with falsified RT-PCR documents. Both are from Jolo, Sulu.
She said they were also issued citation tickets for the payment of a PHP5,000 administrative fine and were sent back Monday to their place of origin, Manila.
She said that inbound travelers are alerted to secure authentic RT-PCR test results from Department of Health (DOH)-accredited testing facilities.
Since last week, a total of 23 passengers were sent back to their place of origin for faking RT-PCR test results.
Salazar said the local IATF-EID together with the police is readying charges against these individuals.
Salazar issued Executive Order No. 674-2021, which provides that travelers caught without RT-PCR or with falsified or imitation RT-PCR results shall be charged with an administrative fine in the maximum amount of PHP5,000.
In addition, they shall immediately be sent back to their place of origin, at their own expense.
This, however, is not a waiver of any charge which may be filed against the individual for violation of the Revised Penal Code or other special law.
Source: Philippines News Agency