2nd quarantine violator charged
A SECOND quarantine skipper, also a returning overseas Filipino like Gwynette Anne Chua, was charged in court by the National Capital Region Field Unit of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos said on Saturday.
Maria Bernalyn Muñoz was subjected to an investigation after the Task Group on Management of Overseas Filipino Workers last New Year’s Eve was informed by the Seda Hotel Makati about her quarantine protocol violations, said the top cop.
Last Tuesday, the CIDG-NCRFU was ordered by CIDG director, Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro to conduct a thorough investigation of the complaint.
The CIDG-NCRFU headed by Colonel Randy Glenn F. Silvio found out that the United States-based Muñoz arrived in the country last December 22. But instead of taking her arranged shuttle ride to her assigned quarantine facility in Seda Hotel Makati, she took an airport taxi and went to her condo unit in BGC, Taguig City.
Col. Silvio said they discovered that Muñoz failed to show up or report at the said hotel-quarantine facility and stayed in her condo unit from December 22, 2021 to last January 4.
While staying at her condo unit, Muñoz did not quarantine herself and even availed the services of a masseuse last December 29 and left her condo several times including last New Year’s Eve.
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año earlier said they received reports that the woman claimed she was given an exemption for quarantine by the Bureau of Quarantine although the BOQ denied her claim.
Sec. Año said the woman took the RT-PCR test at her condo catching by surprise the medical personnel who found out that she was supposed to be quarantined at the Seda Residences. The hotel has been asked to explain the incident.
On Thursday, the CIDG-NCRFU filed a case against. Muñoz for violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) particularly, Section 9 (d) Non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern, and Section 9 (e) Non-cooperation of the person or entities identifies as having the notifiable disease, or affected by the health event of public concern.
The case was filed before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Ferro, he has instructed the CIDG-NCRFU to continue working with concerned government agencies in investigating violations of quarantine protocols.
“ Rest assured that the PNP will remain faithful and diligent in assisting the concerned government agencies and the IATF-MEID,” he said.
