No mercy for illegal swab centers: DOJ

MANILA – Charges will be slapped against operators of illegal swabbing centers, as well as those peddling fake coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid 19) swab test results, as the government continues to go after such violators.

In a message to newsmen on Thursday, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said operators of illegal swabbing centers face charges for violation of local ordinances on business establishments, the Consumer Act and Republic Act (RA) 4688, or the Act Regulating the Operation and Maintenance of Clinical Laboratories and Requiring the Registration of the Same.

As for those peddling false medical certificates, Guevarra said they violate the Medical Act and Section 9 of RA 11332 on the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseasesare and are guilty of falsification and/or use of falsified medical certificates.

Employers have been requiring job seekers and their employees to undergo regular testing for the coronavirus.

On Monday, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) issued a warning against fake Covid test results.

“We have received reports of falsified or fake negative results using the PGH SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Transcription PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Report forms. We wish to inform everyone to avoid dealing with unscrupulous individuals and be wary of suspicious-looking RT-PCR reports,” PGH posted on social media.

Patients can contact PGH to verify their test results or make appointments through the email address opswab.uppgh@up.edu.ph.

Tourist spots Boracay and El Nido, Palawan have also reported intercepting fake negative test results.