Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Eleazar, has directed the filing of administrative and criminal charges against eight policemen from the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) who allegedly presented fake swab test results when they tried to enter Zamboanga City.
“We have zero tolerance for this kind of shameful and unscrupulous act. I am directing the PRO-BAR to look into this and lodge criminal as well as administrative charges against these PNP personnel,” Eleazar said in a statement on Saturday.
Eleazar said the eight police officers from Isabela and Lamitan, Basilan were on board MV Cassey Beatrise and MV Cyrstal Jane when intercepted by local officials after presenting fake Covid-19 test results at the Zamboanga port.
The police officers were fined, placed on quarantine and underwent swab testing before they were sent back to their respective ports of origin.
“Tayo ang tagapagpatupad ng batas kaya’t nararapat lang na tayo ang nangunguna sa pagsunod sa mga quarantine protocols na inilalabas ng gobyerno ngayong panahon ng pandemya (We are the law enforcers so we should take the lead in following the quarantine protocols issued by the government during this time of pandemic),” Eleazar said.
Criminal charges for alleged violation of Section 9, Paragraph B (Tampering of records or intentionally providing misinformation) of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act will be slapped against the policemen.
Eleazar said this incident should serve as a reminder and stern warning to other police personnel to follow the law and set a good example for the general public.
“Papaano tayo seseryosohin at rerespetuhin ng publiko kung tayo mismo ang hindi sumusunod sa batas? (How can the public take us seriously and respect us if we ourselves do not follow the law). Being a policeman doesn’t mean we are above the law,” he said.
Source: Philippines News Agency