THE Provincial Incident Team Management (PIMT) is warning travelers against using fake documents, including negative results of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
PIMT Head Dr. Zeaphard Caelian emphasized that they are still strictly implementing the province's travel protocols and travelers entering the province are required to present a negative RT-PCR test, as well as securing their travel documents using the S-PaSS system and the StaySafe.PH app.
Caelian reiterated the reminder as he confirmed Monday, June 14, 2021, that they have intercepted five individuals who have allegedly presented fake travel documents or RT-PCR test results.
He said the individuals they intercepted consisted of four individuals who have fake S-PaSS documents and one individual who presented a fake RT-PCR test result.
Caelian said the incident took place in May and the travelers originated from Batangas.
The five were subsequently taken for swab testing and placed in an isolation facility in Silay City.
Caelian said they immediately reported the incident to the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force in Western Visayas.
Upon further questioning by authorities, it was revealed that the five were scammed at the Batangas Port who sold them fake travel documents.
Caelian was not able to say how much the fake travel documents were being sold, however, in previous cases, fake travel documents and fake RT-PCR test results were being sold for as much as P3,800 to P5,000.