4 nabbed for fake swab tests

MANILA, Philippines — Four persons accused of making falsified COVID-19 swab test results were arrested in Manila on Monday, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday.

Ronaldo Benitez, Allison Anorico, Ronilo Nonato and Rostica Labando were nabbed by CIDG operatives in Sampaloc.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro said the subject of the operation was Benitez, who tried to escape by running toward a house along Lerma street.

When police barged inside, they reportedly caught Benitez, Anorico and Labando while in the act of falsifying reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results.

Police also took into custody Nonato, who is the owner of the house.

Seized from the suspects were five computer monitors, six central processing units, three printers, four keyboards, four auto
voltage regulators and other equipment allegedly used in faking RT-PCR test results.

Ferro said they conducted an operation against the suspects after receiving reports about the rampant falsification of swab test results used as
travel requirement.

Police said Benitez and Anorico are members of crime rings in Manila.

The suspects are being held by police on charges of falsification of documents and violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act in relation to RA 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Prevention Act.