47 charged over fake COVID-19 test results in Cebu

CEBU CITY , Philippines — Forty-seven people including state workers have been charged for using fake RT-PCR or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results in Cebu.

The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), which sought an investigation into the proliferation of fake negative RT-PCR test results bearing the name of the hospital.

National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas chief Renna Oliva said the NBI received a letter of complaint from VSMMC medical director Gerardo Aquino Jr.

“The letter included a list of 48 names of people who supposedly used fake negative RT-PCR test results,” Oliva said.

“The names included government officials and employees,” she added.

Of the 48 people, 47 were located by the NBI, which led to the filing of the charges before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.

The fake RT-PCR test results were used by the suspects for travel purposes – part of the health protocols imposed to prevent the spread of COVID.

Aquino’s request was received by the NBI-Central Visayas in July, when the country was experiencing a high number of COVID cases and restrictions were tight.