The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered on Monday the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prosecute groups and individuals faking the Reverse-Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) results “to the fullest extent of the law”.
DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Bernardo Florece, Jr. directed the PNP personnel to leave no stones unturned so that all the perpetrators are arrested and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
“The DILG directs the PNP to arrest and prosecute individuals who are forging their RT-PCR tests. This is a crime and is punishable under our law. We are also warning those people planning to fake their test certifications. Huwag n’yo na pong gawin at kung hindi, sisiguraduhin po namin na makukulong kayo,” Florese said.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act provides for penalties of P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
Florece said that the PNP must be vigilant in guarding entry points of tourists and travelers to ensure that people are abiding by the standards set by the IATF and the local government unit (LGU) and are compliant with minimum health standards. (Chito A. Chavez)
