Roque asks Taguig LGU to conduct COVID-19 testing for Fabel Pineda’s OFW mother

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Monday requested Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano to facilitate the COVID-19 testing of the overseas Filipino worker mother of Fabel Pineda, the 15-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and killed by two cops in Ilocos Sur, so that she could already return to the province.

"Mayor Lino, are you on the line? Puwede ho bang i-request ko na na magpadala na kayo ng swabber kung nasan naman itong nanay ng biktima na napatay? Alam ko sa Taguig one day lang, para after one day makauwi na siya sa Ilocos Sur," Roque said at a press briefing.

In response, Cayetano agreed and said he would have the mother be tested for COVID-19 within the day.

"Yes... within the day po," the mayor said.

Pineda, who arrived from Kuwait on Monday, will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine before returning to Ilocos Sur under the prevailing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She earlier appealed to the government to exempt her from the said requirement.

Murder charges were earlier filed against Police Staff Sergeants Randy Ramos and Marawi Torda following the incident.

All policemen of the Cabugao and San Juan Municipal Police Stations in Ilocos Sur had also been relieved from duty and the Cabugao police chief was charged with obstruction of justice. — RSJ, GMA News