Slap on wrist won’t do: Wes Gatchalian wants fakers of COVID-19 test fined P1M

Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian is pushing for stiffer penalties for individuals who fake their COVID-19 test results.

House Bill 8643 filed by Gatchalian seeks to amend Republic Act 11132 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, to include the falsification of COVID-19 test results among the punishable acts.

Any individual proven to have falsified any COVID test results – whether reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab, rapid antigen, or saliva test results – shall be imprisoned for a minimum of six years and one day to a maximum of 12 years. Those convicted shall also be fined by as much as P1 million.

Gatchalian said faking COVID-19 test results poses risks to public safety and “recklessly endanger the lives of the people these offenders may interact or come into contact with.”

The lawmaker cited as example the three women in Caloocan who were caught selling fake COVID-19 test results in July last year as well as the six Boracay tourists who submitted falsified test results to be able to enter the island on February 3. Half of the six later tested positive for COVID-19.

“The desire of individuals to proceed with their lives in the new normal should not be at the expense of other people,” he said.

Under the current law, persons found guilty of tampering with their health records would be fined P20,000 to P50,000 or face imprisonment of at least one to six months, or both.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)