Zambo intercepts 23 people with fake RT-PCR test results

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have intercepted at least 23 people with fake negative RT-PCR tests since last week while trying to enter Zamboanga City from Manila.

This was announced by the local government after 10 passengers arrived over the weekend from a flight in Manila. It said 8 passengers arrived 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.

 

“The passengers were deported to Manila, their place of origin Sunday, August 8, at their own expense. They were issued citation tickets for the payment of administrative fines. Prior to their return flight, they spent the night in a local hotel, also at their own expense.”

 

“Meanwhile, 2 more passengers arrived at the airport Sunday afternoon, August 8 with falsified RT-PRCR documents. Both are from Jolo and are set to return to their flight of origin, Manila, Monday, August 9,” the local government said in a statement, adding, “since last week, a total of 23 passengers were deported to their place of origin for faking COVID-19 testing results. The Local IATF (Inter-agency Task Force) together with the police is readying charges against these individuals.”

 

It said all those intercepted were also issued citation tickets and fined P5,000 each.

 

Mayor Beng Climaco has 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, Western 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. (Mindanao Examiner)