19 individuals caught with fake COVID-19 test results in Boracay

Aklan Provincial Administrator Selwyn Ibarreta is concerned about the growing number of tourists in Boracay who are caught with fake COVID-19 test results. Most of the fake test results come from a large hospital in Metro Manila he said. 

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Boracay reopened to tourists on October 1, but those who'll visit there must first present a negative COVID-19 test result. 

The number of tourists caught already reached to 19 individuals and have been arrested by the authorities for allegedly forging COVID-19 test results, including a woman from Manila who was arrested this Thursday afternoon at Caticlan Airport. 

According to authorities, the fake test results are looking exactly the same with the legitimate test results. That is why to make sure their validity, they've called the said clinic to confirm. 

Sa labs, naglalagay na sila ng QR code. Lumalabas kung kanino na-issue at kung ginamit ng iba. Kung fake, 'di lumalabas ang name kanino in-issue,

Ibarreta explained. 

Individuals who got caught were immediately taken to the quarantine facility in Kalibo and subjected to a swab test and 14-day quarantine. 

Karamihan sa nahuhuli, magbabarkada. Mayroon din magkakapamilya,

said Col. Esmeraldo Osia Jr., chief of Aklan police. 

Tourists with fake test results are faced with falsification of documents and violation of the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.