A person involved in the production of fake COVID-19 testing results was arrested in an entrapment operation spearheaded by Police Station 11 in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) in sta. Barbara, late Friday afternoon.
The suspect, Amilhamja Ansar y Akbar, 59 years old, single, of Sta. Barbara was arrested after several days of discreet investigation and location tracing. Items recovered from his possession included marked money and alleged fake reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR test results of 3 persons.
As this developed, Mayor Beng Climaco commended the operating team for a job well-done, as she urged the filing of appropriate charges against the suspect and his possible cohorts. She said the arrest is a big boost to the city’s campaign to prevent coronavirus transmission.
PS11 Chief PMaj. Chester Natividad said the entrapment operation came after tourism and health office personnel manning the Travel Hub at the port area intercepted some 30 inbound travellers carrying fake COVID-19 testing results, last week. This prompted Natividad and his men to conduct covert follow-up investigations that led to the identification and location of the suspect.
The suspect faces charges of violation of Republic Act 11332 and falsification of public documents specifically RT-PCR or swab test results.
Mayor Climaco has directed police authorities to arrest and intensify crackdown against people faking COVID-19 testing results as well as those engaged in producing fake negative RT-PCR test results.
She likewise warned travellers against resorting to unlawful means that would violate standard health protocols and might pose risk to their health and family and community.
 (Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook Page, photo courtesy of PS11)