By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Several travelers bound for Bacolod City have reportedly been intercepted by authorities after they allegedly used fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results in order to enter the city.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical of the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said they have already referred the incidents to the City Legal Office which will conduct an investigation.

Sorongon said they monitored the fake swab test results after the city and the province of Negros Occidental started implementing the S-Pass System, which gives travelers the approved travel coordination permits.

All individuals including locally stranded individuals, returning overseas Filipinos, returning overseas Filipino workers, and authorized persons outside of residence are required to present a negative RT-PCR test result at least 72 hours prior to travel.

Travelers entering the city are also required to register via the BacTrac System for contact tracing purposes.

Sorongon warned travelers outside of Region 6 to avoid using fake RT-PCR test results as they always contact the laboratories involved in the testing.

Several security features were also introduced in the swab test results, adding that the document could not be faked./DGB, WDJ