Seventy-nine Davao-bound airline passengers have been caught submitting fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results, according to the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC).
City Tourism Operations Office (CTTMO) Head Generose Tecson said the erring passengers presented fake RT-PCR test results from different testing centers in the country. Most forged test results were from Philippine Red Cross and Lord’s Grace in Manila, many of which were without QR codes. There were also falsified test results coming from Cebu particularly University of Cebu Medical Center and Central Visayas Laboratory. Zamboanga is also a source of fake documents.
A few cases involved passengers presenting fake test results from Cubao, Quezon City for a cost of P3,800 with receipt which upon arrival at the Davao International Airport (DIA) were found to be bogus.
Time and again, passengers are reminded to get swabbed in legitimate hospitals and medical laboratories. But the reminders fell on deaf ears.
The test-before-travel requirement for all Davao-bound flight passengers is mandated by City Ordinance 0477-21, Series of 2021, providing for mandatory testing before entry into the city via the Davao International Airport.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has also warned Davao-bound passengers not to falsify their documents under pain of being arrested and charged criminally.
Despite the law, the risk of being caught and charged in court and suffer penalty, people keep on violating the requirement.
Stubborn Filipinos who insist on their crooked ways should be taught a hard lesson. The authorities should be consistent in arresting them and always ready to put them behind bars.
On the other hand, the violators are most likely victims themselves who have been hoodwinked by glib-tongued criminal operators to patronize their fake operation.
This is a big challenge to law enforcers who must be scratching their heads by now due to the problem. Being enforcers schooled in the ways of the criminal world, we can only wish they remain consistent to their sworn duty of upholding the law.
