2 men arrested trying to smuggle traders into Zambo

TWO MEN who are residents of Tungawan town in Zamboanga Sibugay province are facing criminal charges after police arrested them trying to facilitate the entry of two local businessmen without Covid-19 test and S-PASS required by the City Government.

Police identified the arrested as Nuruddin Samsuddin, 38; and Rodrigo Maquilang, 52; who are residents of Barangay San Pedro in Tungawan town. The duo tried to smuggle the businessmen into Zamboanga City in exchange for P3,000 but members of the 1st Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company guarding the border foiled the attempt. 

The identities of the businessmen were not made public and it was unknown whether they would also be charged or not. 

Police said the modus operandi of Maquilang was to accompany the travellers so they could walk past the border control point pretending to be residents in Barangay Licomo. And Samsuddin on the other hand would drive the travellers’ vehicle on the pretence that he took over the task from another driver who delivered the car to the border. 

Mayor Beng Climaco praised the police for their swift action and for exerting efforts in preventing the illegal entry of travellers who have no health documents. “The apprehension of the two individuals sends a strong message that Zamboanga City does not tolerate activities that put lives of Zamboangueños at risk,” she said. 

Security forces at the border have arrested dozens of people trying to illegally cross Zamboanga City without RT-PCR tests and S-PASS.

Climaco has repeatedly reminded travellers to present their S-PASS aside from negative Covid-19 test results every time they come here.

S-PASS is short for Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) Digital Travel Management System developed by the Department of Science and Technology which is being used across the country upon order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government during this pandemic period. It was institutionalized this year as a one-stop-shop application or communication for travellers. 

The mayor issued an executive order making it mandatory for all travellers - whether they are fully vaccinated or not - entering Zamboanga to present their negative RT-PCR test result, especially now that there have been hundreds of cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the Covid-19 in the country. 

Climaco ordered a strict border control and implementation of the health protocols in Zamboanga. She said travellers must have negative Covid-19 test results, whether by Saliva RT-PCR test or nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test, before they enter Zamboanga.

She previously issued Executive Order 651-2021 that mandates all inbound passengers, whether APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) or private individuals, regardless of reason or purpose of entry, including transit travellers to present negative RT-PCR test result within 5 days from date of specimen collection and their valid identification cards before they can enter Zamboanga City. The mayor said these are temporary measures designed to curb the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in order to promote the health and safety of the general welfare of the citizens.

The local government also started random rapid antigen tests among travellers, including those under essential services, at all entry points here to help curb the spread of Covid-19, especially the Delta variant. (Zamboanga City)