BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental uncovered another fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result and certification submitted by an 19-year-old returning resident, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
Diaz said the alleged fake certification was made to appear to have been issued by the Philippine National Red Cross Molecular Laboratory in Mandaluyong City.
He added that the individual also submitted a fake S-PaSS document.
The returning Negrense allegedly paid P2,000 for the certification.
Charina Magallanes-Tan, executive assistant to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, said they discovered that the RT-PCR test certification was fake after noting that its font was different from the one used by the Red Cross.
“Upon verification with Red Cross, it was confirmed to be fake,” Tan said.
Lacson, meanwhile, said he will leave it to the Provincial Legal Office on what action to take.
“We consider it a serious offense,” the governor said.
The individual could face charges of falsification of public documents and violation of Republic Act 11332, otherwise known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.”
The local government unit of EB Magalona yesterday announced they would press charges
Mayor Mavin Malacon revealed that the traveler’s fake S-PaSS certificate stated that he was a resident of the town’s Barangay Alicante.
However, upon further investigation it was revealed that the traveler’s real home was in Cadiz City./PN
