Woman reproduces ECQ pass, nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — A 38-year-old woman was arrested by the authorities after she allegedly reproduced quarantine passes in Cebu City on Monday.

Captain Miles Damaslog, Waterfront Police Station chief, identified the suspect as Maria Rowena Sarsalejo, of Barangay Santo Niño. She was arrested inside the City Hall around 5:30 p.m. Monday after a security guard heard her say, “Maayo ning daghan (It’s better to have more of these).”

Damaslog said that Sarsalejo was then turned over to the police station by the City Hall personnel, accusing her of planning to sell the photocopied ECQ passes.

Sarsalejo is now facing charges for violating Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification of documents in relation to the Cebu City Executive Order No. 65 or the unauthorized reproduction of ECQ passes.

Sarsalejo, for her part, denied planning to sell the reproduced passes, saying she only wanted to make more copies instead one gets lost or wet.

“Dili nako ni ibaligya kay ako man ning control number. Ang ako ani, aron unta og mawagtang ang usa naay ikapuli (I won’t sell these since they bear my control number. I reproduced the original so I have spare),” she said.

She said that she could only plead and ask for forgiveness as her actions were not meant to cause any harm.

Cebu City Administrator Attorney Floro Casas Jr. also warned those who will try to distribute counterfeited ECQ passes that they will face charges for the violation.

“Kadto nadakpan nga nag-counterfeit sa mga ID, Mayor Labella already instructed the PNP to use the full force of the law na gukdon gyud sila. We will not allow them to profit from the crisis,” said Casas.

Casas said that the features of a genuine ECQ pass are the paper used, which is the thick kind, the four colors, and the computer generated codes per pass. The holder is asked to register their pass online for back-up purposes.

“The purpose sa pag-issue sa pass is to limit the number of people in the streets. It’s disappointing kay nagtuo ta nga nag-lockdown ta. Unsa naman hinuon naglumbay naman ang mga tao para makakuha og pass. Temporary ra man ni na measures. I hope mo-cooperate ra atong mga kaigsuonan. Dili raman ni para sa city, para man ni nato tanan,” said Casas.

The city government has issued four types of ECQ passes. The city residents are given green; officials and employees of government offices will get red; non-residents will get blue; and crisis management team members and frontliners will be issued white.

Police said they have a way of finding out whether the passes presented are genuine or not.  KQD (FREEMAN)