By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday (Dec. 30) confirmed that a returning Filipina from the United States breached quarantine protocols this December and tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat did not drop a name but shared in a radio interview that the woman was seen in a bar in Poblacion, Makati City where she partied the day after she arrived in the country.
“Hindi siya nag-quarantine at all… May modus na babayaran lang tapos magpapakita sila on the 5th day para mag-swab… Pagdating ng taong ito, the next day, aba umikot na ng Poblacion (The person did not undergo quarantine at all… There’s a modus that they’ll just pay and will only show up on the 5th day for swabbing… When this person arrived, the next day, she already went to Poblacion),” Romulo-Puyat said.
The quarantine hotel initially covered for the girl, saying she was in isolation the whole time, but the agency said it received evidence from the woman’s fellow partygoers themselves testifying she was with them.
Romulo-Puyat said the girl herself eventually admitted skipping quarantine.
“Ginawa ng mga kasama niya, nagpakita ng signed affidavit, mga pictures, TikTok videos nandoon nga (Her companions showed signed affidavits, pictures, and TikTok videos that showed she was there],” Romulo-Puyat said.
“Ang malas nun, nag-positive siya on the fifth day at ‘yong mga nakasama niya nag-positive rin (What’s unfortunate was that she tested positive on the fifth day, including her companions),” she added.
In the interest of due process, Romulo-Puyat said the hotel was given three days to formally explain their side.
“Nagsinungaling na sila sa amin noong una, sinabi nila na nandoon raw ‘yong tao, wala naman. We even have CCTV (videos) that the person was in Poblacion… We will wait for their explanation,” she said. (PNA) – bny
