BACOLOD CITY –– Authorities have found that some travelers requesting to enter Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have been using fake COVID-19 test results.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said his office had received reports that fake swab results are being sold at the pier in Manila for P900.
Diaz said charges for falsification of public documents would be filed against those caught.
Travelers to Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are required to submit negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results valid within 72 hours from the date of swab sample extraction.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis, said they were disappointed with people who attempt to present fake COVID-19 results, especially at this time of the pandemic.
“Risking the health of others, including members of their families, is so irresponsible. We should all be responsible for the safety of everyone,” Sorongon said.