Fake RT-PCR holders stopped at airport

MAYOR BENG Climaco has lauded airport authorities for intercepting at least 23 people with fake RT-PCR test results the past weeks while trying to enter Zamboanga City from Manila.

A Cebu Pacific plane flies over a traffic in Zamboanga City. (Zamboanga Post)

She said 8 passengers arrived by plane on August 7 and were sent back to Manila the following day; and two more arrived August 8 and were ordered to go back to Manila the next day after the duo - who are natives of Sulu province - spent the night at a local hotel. All those intercepted were also issued citation tickets and fined P5,000 each. 

Climaco said at least 23 people had been stopped at the airport the past 2 weeks. 

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. 

Zamboanga City has recorded one case of Delta variant after a crewman of a passenger boat who arrived from Sabah was tested positive last month and had recovered from the deadly respiratory disease.

The Delta variant was first detected in India, but quickly spread around the world.

The Department of Health reported the presence of Delta variant Davao region, Northern Mindanao, National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces. 

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.

Zamboanga, which has a long coastline, is dotted by over two dozen islands and islets which makes it extremely difficult for security forces to guard. The city is near the provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. (Zamboanga Post)