Last two fellow passengers of first UK variant case in Philippines traced

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday traced the last two fellow passengers of the first Filipino in the country to test positive for the UK variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” the NBI found the 60-year-old close contact and United States national in Silang, Cavite with his Filipino fiancée.

“Kasi itong babae, parang ito ‘yung girlfriend o ka-live-in niya dito o mapapangasawa sa Pilipinas. Actually, doon nga namin siya na-locate, eh. Dahil ‘yung sa may cellphone number siya kaya doon namin siya kinontact at sumagot naman,” NBI-NCR regional director Cesar Bacani said.

“Kaya itong dalawa na ito na taga Cavite, ‘yung lalaki na co-passenger nung nag positive sa COVID variant na UK at ‘yung kinakasama niya sa Pilipinas na papakasalan niya,” he added.

The NBI immediately contacted the Department of Health (DOH) Region 4A to formally turn over the couple to them.

The last contact, meanwhile, was traced by the NBI to Cotabato City.

The NBI said the patient has been brought to a quarantine facility and was scheduled for a PCR test on Tuesday.

On January 22, the DOH directed the NBI to help the Health Department find the last two close contacts.

“Ang task sa atin ay as soon as possible mahanap kasi nga hindi mawawala sa ating mga kababayan ang pangamba na mayroong dalawa na hindi pa nalo-locate at naa-isolate,” Bacani said.

“Kahit papaano mababawasan ang pangamba na kumalat ng una, na nabalita ng una na meron pang hindi na a-account doon 213 passengers na iyon,” he added. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News