Duterte to police, military: Go after people faking COVID-19 test results

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he will order the police and military to go after people who are faking their COVID-19 test results to circumvent restrictions.

He said he will also go after people who are buying COVID-19 vaccines.

“Hindi mo malaman ano ba ito totohanan o iba ‘yan diyan peke [ang result] o… So, I will have to order the police again. Wala akong ibang mauutusan, hindi mo naman mautusan ‘yang mga doktor. I have to order the police and the military to find out and arrest these people.”

(You don’t know if it’s true or fake. So, I will have to order the police again. I don’t have anyone else to direct, I can’t order the doctors. I have to order the police and the military to find out and arrest these people.)

“At saka ‘yang nagpapabili ng bakuna. Nako, huwag ka sanang mahuli. ‘Pag nahuli ka, ipatawag kita sa Malacañang,” he added.

(And those who buy vaccines. I hope you don’t get caught, because if you do, I will call you to Malacañang.)

Duterte made the remark amid a rising tally of COVID-19 cases in the country.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has logged more than 603,000 COVID-19 infections, of which 47,769 are active.

The government is in the early stages of its COVID-19 vaccination program, using the initial batches of Sinovac Biotech’s CoronVac and AstraZeneca jab.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said over 114,500 individuals have already been vaccinated as of March 10.