DOJ, CIDG probing possible payment scheme of quarantine absentees

Authorities will look into the possibility that some individuals were able to escape mandatory quarantine by paying quarantine hotels.

According to Ian Cruz's "24 Oras" report, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Albert Ferro said they will check if there is evidence on claims that Gwyneth Chua may have paid hotel personnel or other authorities to skip quarantine after returning from United States.

Chua is now facing a case before the Makati Prosecutor's Office for violation of R.A. 11332  or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

"Kunyari nag-check in lang pero lalabas. 'Yun ay ating ipu-prove through a series of follow-up investigation para malaman talaga natin kung ano ang nangyari. Kung bakit 'yung mga empleyado ng Berjaya Hotel ay hindi naging istrikto," Ferro said.

(For example there is a check-in. That is what we will prove through a series of follow up probes so that we may know what really happened. We want to know why hotel employees were not strict.)

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Chua's case is not isolated, adding that there could already be a payment scheme happening at the airport.

"Baka mula sa airport pa lang, baka maroon nang raket na nangyayari. Sa halip na dalhin sa quarantine facility, baka hinahayaan na makauwi ng bahay," said Guevarra.

(Maybe from the airport there was an illegal scheme happening. Instead of the quarantine facility, they will be allowed to go straight to their home.)

Guevarra further said he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the quarantine absentee in Makati City.

Chua's quarantine violation hogged the headlines especially after getting positive for COVID-19. She partied in Poblacion, Makati and went to several restaurants right after leaving Berjaya Hotel where she was supposed to undergo five-day quarantine.

As a result, she infected 11  close contacts, according to Department of Health- National Capital Region.

The Berjaya Hotel in Makati apologized for letting Chua skip the quarantine, adding that it will hold accountable their staff who allowed her to leave the quarantine area.

GMA News tried to get the reaction of Berjaya Hotel over the complaint but no one from its management could give a response as of this posting.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News