Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go on Saturday, January 1 demanded a thorough probe on how a coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-infected woman was able to sneak out of a quarantine facility in Makati City just to attend a party last December 23.

‘’As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I demand that a thorough and immediate investigation be conducted on the matter. I laud the DOT (Department of Tourism) and other agencies for their prompt action,’’ Go said.

Expressing his concern over the incident, Go appealed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ‘’to look at a possible syndicate operating wherein people, who are required to undergo the mandatory quarantine, are able to skip it by paying certain sums of money.’’

Several people at the party where the woman attended were reported to have been infected with the dreaded virus. The woman came from the United States.

‘’Kaya dapat tingnan din kung meron bang modus operandi, mula sa mga paliparan hanggang sa mga quarantine facilities (Probers must look into the possibility that a modus operandi, starting from the airport to the quarantine facilities, is in effect),’’ he pointed out.

‘’Kasuhan kung kinakailangan at parusahan na naaayon sa ating batas (Charges should be filed and penalized under the law is required). Tingnan din dapat kung ano ang mga liabilities ng hotel at ipataw ang kaukulang parusa ((Probers should also look Into the possible liability of the hotel and charged if it is deemed appropriate). Hindi natin pinapalampas ang mga ganitong klaseng gawain (We do not allow such a situation to be taken lightly),’’ he added.

‘’Hindi biro ang kinakaharap nating pandemya at napakalaki na nang nagastos ng gobyerno sa ating COVID-19 response (The current pandemic is not a joke as government has already spent so much to contain the pandemic). Lalo na ngayon, ayon sa pinakahuling ulat, na umakyat na naman ang positivity rate ng COVID-19 sa NCR at 14 percent (Based on latest reports, the positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) has risen to 14 percent). Posibleng magdulot ito ng muling pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kaso sa buong bansa (This might cause a rise in COVID-19 infections in the country),’’ he said.

‘’Dapat walang pabor-pabor pagdating sa regulasyon (There should be no favors given when regulations are in effect). Kahit taga gobyerno ka man o marami kang perang pambayad, dapat maparusahan ka kung mapatunayang may paglabag kang ginawa (Even if you are government or has money to spend, you should be charged if you have violated the rules) Sana magsilbi itong babala sa lahat (I hope this incident would serve as a warning to all).