CEBU, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan has filed charges against seven persons—six Filipinos and one Chinese national—before the City Prosecutor’s Office for showing “fake” travel documents.
Joselito Caingat; Ariel Alarcon, Renato Laino, Leo Caingat, Nelson Barnacha, and Jason Gregorio, all from San Fernando, Nueva Ecija; and Liao Wei Sung are facing criminal complaints for falsification of public documents.
They were arrested Wednesday morning at the Mactan Cebu International Airport for allegedly presenting fake letters of acceptance (LOA) with Chan’s digital signature.
The letter is a requisite to be allowed entry to Cebu as strict border measures are being implemented against COVID-19.
Travellers are required to present a letter of acceptance from the local chief executives. This means that mayors must be informed of incoming travellers.
If proven guilty of forging the LOA, they will face a penalty of six months imprisonment and P1 million in fines.
Sung, in an interview via Chan’s Facebook live, said they had no idea that the LOA was fake.
Police executive master sergeant Roger Oriarte, Police Station 5 investigator, said they are still looking into the source of the fake documents.
“Kay matud pa nila sa online daw. Kakuyaw ani og managhan ni sila nga walay RT-PCR testing unya makasulod lang sa airport using fake documents. May gani nasakpan ni sila,” he said.
He said Sung, a contractor, employed the Pinoys to install signages, glass and alumimum walls in Barangay Marigondon in the city.
He said the travellers are temporarily detained at the station as they failed to post a bail.
“Pero ang pito wala naka post og bail kay naabtan na ta sa oras kay hapon na na file ang complaint,” he said.
They were also subjected to RT-PCR testing for COVID-19. The results are yet to be released. — KQD (FREEMAN)