‘Poblacion Girl’ arraignment set

MANILA, Philippines — A Makati court has set the arraignment and pre-trial of Gwyneth Anne Chua, also known as “Poblacion Girl,” on Sept. 5 for the charges against her for allegedly breaching mandatory quarantine protocols last December.

Makati Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 128 Judge Maureen Rubio-Marquez also scheduled for arraignment Esteban Gatbonton, a security guard of Berjaya Hotel who allegedly helped Chua escape from the quarantine facility after arriving from the United States in December last year.

Chua then met up with friends in Poblacion, Makati. She later tested positive for COVID-19.

The city prosecutor’s office indicted Chua and Gatbonton in April for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

An insider said Chua was supposed to be arraigned on July 22 but her lawyer filed a motion to quash information on the basis of lack of jurisdiction.

Chua’s lawyer also cited a new government resolution that no longer requires returning overseas Filipinos to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.