DAVAO CITY – A total of 60 air passengers have been arrested here for submitting falsified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results upon their arrival at the Davao International Airport (DIA).
In a statement on Wednesday, March 31, Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay said among those arrested were five uniformed personnel.
“Na-file na ang kaso, wala ta’y ginapili bisan kinsa because you are putting the city at risk. They will be facing criminal charges and possibly administrative cases (We already filed cases, we do not exempt anyone because you are putting the city at risk. They will be facing criminal charges and possibly administrative cases),” Sumagaysay said.
Of the 60 individuals, 32 cases have already been filed from November 13, 2020 to March 29, 2021.
The city government added that data from the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) showed that three individuals are up for inquest "while 25 other arrested individuals will face charges through regular filing."
It said "currently, there are four individuals detained for falsification of RT-PCR test results while 23 others were released on bail."
Sumagaysay said that violators will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 11332, also known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," for not declaring health status.
He added that one of the violators tampered with his test results.
“Naa ta’y isa ka case nga iyang gi-edit ang result, ang gipakita niya kay negative tong gi-verify kung asa sya nagpa-swab and it turned out nga positive sya (We have a case that he edited his test result and when we verified where did he get his test, it turned out that he is positive),” he said.
Last March 23, 2021,the Davao City Government reinstated its ordinance requiring air passengers entering the city through the DIA to present a negative RT-PCR test result.