A Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) who skipped the mandatory health protocol in a Makati City hotel may have infected around 15 people with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed on Thursday night, Dec. 30.

In an interview over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año noted that a certain Gwyneth Chua, who arrived from the United States, left the hotel and had dinner in a restaurant even if she was under the mandatory health quarantine.

He revealed that the woman had a swab taken on Dec. 26 which is a “clear’’ indication that Chua, who later tested positive for the virus, violated the required protocols.

“Yung problema, yung mga nakasama niya sa dinner and sa bar, ay mga nagpa-positive (for COVID-19) na rin. Ang sabi lang about 15 yung nagpa-positive (for the virus). (The problem is her dinner and bar companions were also tested positive. It was reported that about 15 people were positive. We need to confirm that),’’ Año said.

‘Kung omicron case 'to, huwag naman sana. Kasi ang bilis talaga kung omicron. Magpa-test na lang (If this is omicron case, I hope not. Because it really transmits rapidly. They should just get tested),’’ he added.

Año admitted that it remains unclear if those infected were with Chua in the dinner or party as more people are providing more details about the incident.

“The investigation is still ongoing but CCTV footage confirmed that the woman got out of the quarantine facility,’’ Año noted.

The DILG chief also pointed out that a number of people in the party that Chua attended were COVID-19 positive while several others had symptoms of the virus.

“We still don't know if it is omicron because hindi pa, wala pang result yung genome sequencing niya (because her genome sequencing has not been released yet),’’ he explained.

Año said authorities had already inspected the establishments where Chua visited. The hotel personnel were also interviewed.

“Very cooperative naman sila, pinakita na rin nila yung CCTV footage sa ating CIDG (Criminal Investigation and detection Group) investigators,’’ he stressed.

With the incident, Año emphasized that the woman should be held liable for violating the government’s mandatory health protocols.

At present Chua is in isolation in the quarantine facility of another hotel.

“Berjaya Makati Hotel, meanwhile, could be liable for their supposed failure to supervise the person and following the quarantine protocols,’’ Año said.

“Pinayagan ba siyang makalabas? May personnel ba diyan na binayaran para palabasin siya o talagang tumakas si Miss Chua on her own. Marami akong naririnig na ganyan. Bumabalik na lang sila kapag ite-test na sila (Was she allowed to go out? Was there any personnel who got paid to permit her to leave or did Miss Chua just escaped on her own? I have heard information about that. They just returned in time for their testing),’’ he lamented.

Año added that they are also validating reports that there are “schemes’’ on paying hotels to temporarily get out of quarantine which is illegal.

“Nagbabayad na lang sila sa hotel para makalabas. Hindi mo puwedeng bayaran yung kaligtasan ng ibang tao (They are just paying the hotel to go out. You cannot pay for the safety of other people),’’ he said.