THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested two persons during a raid in a computer shop in Caloocan City for allegedly falsifying rapid test result certificates.
CIDG deputy director for administration Brigadier General Rhoderick Armamento said they conducted an entrapment operation on Thursday, July 23, against the TJ Computer Shop in Barangay 177 in Caloocan City, resulting in the arrest of Angelica Arino Dellola and Jeshel Roldan Mohad.
He said the operation stemmed from a viral Facebook post of a netizen who said that while waiting for her turn at the computer shop, she noticed the shop's female employee changing the name on the supposed rapid test result certificate through Photoshop. The employee then printed it and handed the certificate to the customer.
“Nagkaroon kami ng entrapment operation, may isang operatiba na kukuha at nangangailangan ng rapid antibody test at sa halagang P500 ay nahintay nya ang resulta,” said Armamento.
(We conducted an entrapment operation wherein one operative was tasked to get a rapid antibody test worth P500 and waited for the result.)
He said they also coordinated with the clinic where the rapid test result certification was issued.
“Na-identify namin kung kaninong clinic ang kanilang ginagaya so through our coordination, apprehensive din sila ng malaman nila kasi maaapektuhan ang kanilang pagseserbisyo kaya naman nakipagtulungan din sa amin ang One-rad Medical and X-ray Clinic sa Katipunan,” he said.
(We identified the clinic and they helped us in the operation, as they also wanted to know who are falsifying the results, considering that it will also affect their service.)
Armamento said falsifying health certificates is “highly dangerous.”
Several people, especially those going to provinces, have submitted themselves to rapid tests to be able to get health certificates, which are necessary for them to get a travel authority from the police.
Locally stranded individuals have been required to present a travel authority and health certificate that will show they are negative for coronavirus to be able to go to their respective provinces.
Armamento said charges for falsification of documents and violation of the Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, were filed against the arrested suspects. (SunStar Philippines)