10 cops face raps over fake swab test results

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Ten policemen in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region are facing charges for presenting fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results when they entered this city on Monday.

Maj. Shallamie Chang, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, said the policemen arrived from Lamitan and Isabela cities in Basilan on separate ferry boats.

Chang said charges for violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Act and falsification of public documents would be filed against the policemen.

“The city legal office recommended the charges, with the local IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) as the complainant,” she said.

City tourism officer Sarita Sebastian-Hernandez said almost 50 persons have been apprehended for presenting fake RT-PCR test results.

“Those who were caught have been blacklisted in this city,” Hernandez said.