15 people arrested over fake COVID-19 test results —PNP

The Philippine National Police on Wednesday said its Aviation Security Group has intercepted 15 people with fake COVID-19 confirmatory test results.

In a statement, PNP said those arrested were travelling from Manila, which is currently under the enhanced community quarantine, to Davao and Zamboanga Cities.

They will face charges for falsification of public documents and violation of the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

A fine of up to P50,000 and imprisonment of at least a month but not more than six months will be imposed on the violators for forging COVId-19 test results.

The law states that “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.”

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas warned the public against faking their RT-PCR tests and other health documents.

"Let me reiterate to the public that using fake laboratory results poses a danger to everyone,” the PNP statement quoted Sinas as saying.

“Our frontliners are risking their lives to save yours, a little bit of concern and cooperation is what we need to fight this unseen enemy", he added. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News