THE Malay town government in Aklan has sued 122 tourists for presenting fake RT-PCR negative test results to gain entry to Boracay Island since October last year when the tourist destination was opened to local travelers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a radio interview, Malay acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista said the violators have also been declared persona non-grata by the town government.
Bautista said that in line with their “very strict” monitoring of tourists going to Boracay, the town government has formed a team to check the veracity of swab test results issued by clinics or laboratories.
Boracay has been on lockdown due to an increase in local COVID-19 cases. The lockdown is due to end today.
Bautista said no new cases were reported from the island on Sunday and Monday.
Meanwhile, operatives of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested in Quezon City yesterday morning 10 persons engaged in the illegal trade of COVID-19 test kits.
The suspects, led by Marize Santiago, were nabbed after they sold 30 boxes of Clungene rapid test kits, worth P204,000, to a poseur buyer at around 11 a.m. in Scout Bayoran in Barangay South Triangle.
The policemen also seized assorted rapid test kits amounting to P9 million.
CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Albert Ferro said the CIDG arranged to buy the rapid test kits online after receiving reports that the group was selling medical supplies without approval from the Food and Drug Authority.
Ferro said the CIDG even had a test buy prior to yesterday’s buy-bust operation.
“Per our verification with the FDA, this group has no license to operate, based on our coordination with FDA yesterday,” he said.
The lawmen also confiscated from the suspects several NBI identification cards and badges.
Ferro said they are now coordinating with the NBI to determine the authenticity of the IDs and badges and why these were in the possession of the suspects.
