‘Poblacion Girl’ faces charges for COVID-19 quarantine breach

FILE PHOTO: A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020. NEXU Science Communication/via REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines—The Makati City Prosecution Office has recommended the filing of charges against “Poblacion Girl” Gwyneth Anne Chua for skipping quarantine protocols during the holiday season last year.

In a resolution made public Thursday, the Makati City Prosecution Office found probable cause to charge Chua with violation of Section 9 (d) of Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) which states that “non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern” is a prohibited act.

Also to be charged is Esteban Gatbonton, a security guard of the Berjaya Hotel for assisting Chua in escaping from the quarantine facility.

On December 30, 2021, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced to the public that a returning overseas Filipina escaped from quarantine and partied along Makati’s Poblacion area. Later, the Filipina’s COVID-19 test came out positive and that she also infected other people she was with during the party.

READ: Complaint filed vs. Poblacion Girl, 8 others for COVID-19 quarantine breach

Initially, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) included Chua’s parents and her boyfriend, Rico Atienza in the complaint.

However, government prosecutors said there is not enough evidence against Chua’s parents and boyfriend to warrant the filing of a case in court.

/MUF