BACOLOD CITY – As Negros Occidental strengthened its measures against the new COVID-19 variant, five returning Negrenses are in hot water for not disclosing that they came from the United Kingdom.
(Provincial Government of Negros Occidental / MANILA BULLETIN)
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday that they are studying possible legal actions against the five returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) after they reportedly did not tell authorities that they came from the United Kingdom (UK) before going home to the province.
Unfortunately, two of them tested positive for COVID. Three others tested negative of the virus.
Lacson said swab samples of the two COVID infected ROFs will be submitted to Manila for further tests, especially for the new variant of the virus from the UK.
Also, Lacson said that they are filing complaints before the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases against the five ROFs for returning home to the province without undergoing the required swab testing in Manila.
Lacson said that they allegedly misdeclared that they are locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
Following this incident, the governor noted that the province will have to maintain the health protocols on returning Negrenses, including the conduct of swab test upon arrival to the province.