Public warned anew to stop faking COVID-19 results

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas has once again warned the public against falsifying COVID-19 test results.

DOH-7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche made the warning after the health department recently received reports of five falsified or fake negative coronavirus results.

Several Filipino tourists and workers have been reported to forge their COVID-19 test results for travel and work requirements in recent months.

“Apparently, there are a lot already of very enterprising people who produce their own negative test results to be able to travel or report back to work,” said Loreche.

She warned those who are falsifying their COVID-19 test results that they may face imprisonment and hefty fines.

Falsifying of COVID-19 test results is “a crime punishable under Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act which 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.”

Under Section 1-B of RA 11332, “tampering of records relating to notifiable diseases or health events of public health concern, which includes official medical test results or medical certificates, or such other documents and records issued by public health authorities” is punishable by law.

Loreche asked those who are planning to fake their COVID-19 test to stop.

“Every time you forged your test, you are not only endangering yourself, but also the locals, the entire community,” she said.

She also urged the public to be proactive by reporting individuals offering, selling and submitting fake coronavirus tests.

“Let’s report them. We cannot allow these people to endanger the communities with their scheme,” she said.

Last February, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had already issued a stern warning to individuals faking Reverse-Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

Along with it, DILG has also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law”. — KQD (FREEMAN)