3 Boracay tourists who faked swab tests found infected

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Five tourists from Metro Manila who visited Boracay have presented fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for COVID-19.

Three of them later tested positive for the virus.

Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista said the tourists were apprehended at the hotel where they were billeted on Jan. 21 after verification revealed that the swab test results  were falsified.

A negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours of travel is required for tourists going to Boracay.

Bautista said the five were brought to the provincial quarantine facility at the Aklan Training Center, where they underwent swab tests.

The five will be charged with violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

Bautista said more than 20 tourists have been arrested in Boracay for presenting fake COVID-19 test results.

“We are asking the help of establishments or hotels to verify the RT-PCR test results of their guests,” he said.

Bautista said they are considering declaring tourists who will be found to present falsified swab test results as persona non grata.

“Hindi na sila pwedeng makapunta sa Boracay,” he said.

Negative RT-PCR tests

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said a negative RT-PCR test is still a requirement before entry in most areas that reopened to local tourists, particularly Boracay.

“While it is within the purview of the local government units to determine the type of test deemed best to keep their communities and borders safe, the DOT defers to the guidance of the Department of Health, which is the lead agency of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to institute overarching policies and procedures to curb the spread of the disease,” the DOT said.

The agency was reacting to reports that a negative COVID-19 saliva test offered by the Philippine Red Cross is accepted for those visiting Boracay.

The DOT said RT-PCR tests has been made affordable through the collaboration of the Tourism Promotions Board with the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC).

”Domestic tourists could avail themselves of a 50 percent subsidized test at P900 and P750 from the UP-PGH and PCMC, respectively,” the DOT said. – Catherine Talevera