A PERSON under monitoring (PUM) was nabbed after he escaped mandatory quarantine at the Mambukal Resort in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia.
Police identified the PUM as Felix Alejo, a resident of Bacolod City.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director Romeo Baleros said Alejo was one of the 84 Negrenses who arrived on Thursday via Cebu Pacific flight after getting stranded due to the lockdown imposed in Luzon due to the threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Police Colonel Baleros said Alejo boarded the bus for Mambukal Resort, however, around 5 p.m. he received a call from lawyer Rayfrando Diaz telling him that Alejo escaped.
Authorities were immediately alerted of the escape, and police immediately conducted a manhunt operation.
Baleros also made a public appeal on social media for the public to be on the lookout for Alejo. The police director said it didn’t take long for them to receive information that Alejo was hiding in his home at Camella Homes Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan.
Police along with several provincial officials immediately went to Alejo’s home and arrested him.
When Baleros talked to Alejo, the PUM told him that the quarantine was supposed to be only for those originating from the National Capital Region.
Alejo then asked the guard on duty at Mambukal if those from Pampanga are also covered in the quarantine and when the guard was not able to provide a clear answer, he escaped.
Baleros said anyone, regardless if they originated or not from Metro Manila are considered PUMs since there is presently a strict quarantine control in Negros Occidental.
Alejo is still confined in the Mambukal Resort and he could face charges for violating RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, as well as Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for Resistance and Disobedience to a Person or Agents of Authority.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Government-owned Mambukal Resort has halted its operation effective Wednesday to accommodate the Negrense PUMs, who arrived from Manila Thursday, who will undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Food and lodging will be provided by the provincial government.
The PUMs are not allowed to go out or accept visitors and are strictly monitored.
The resort will not accept reservations and has stopped operation until further notice.