Cops called to pacify 4 foreigners resisting COVID-19 checks in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY–Police and immigration officers here were called in today to pacify four foreigners who refused to submit to monitoring by health officials.

The fracas took place as authorities prepared to enforce on Saturday (March 14) stringent measures to keep COVID-19 from spreading. These included a seven-hour evening curfew, checkpoints, entry and exit protocols.

Dr. Sharir Doldoco, of the Department of Health (DOH), said the four aliens have been tagged as persons who should be subjected to close monitoring for COVID-19.

They include two Cambodians and two Vietnamese, who are said to be working on a project of a local fishing company.

Doldoco said that when sought by health officials, the four showed resistance, prompting city officials to call in policemen and immigration officers who explained to the foreigners what is required of them by Philippine laws.

He said the employer of the four, whose name he did not reveal, had agreed to lease a house where the four will stay during the 14-day period of monitoring by DOH personnel.

Julius Jamorabon, of the immigration bureau, said the bureau was also checking if the four were in the country legally.

The four were said to be set to leave in a couple of days. It was not known when they arrived in the city, considered as the Philippines’ tuna capital.

Edited by TSB