The local government of Malay reiterated its reminder to tourists going to Boracay to submit true and genuine travel documents, especially the negative regular reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result.
Tourists are likewise advised to have themselves tested for COVID-19 in laboratories accredited by the Department of Health only.
This, after eight travelers were recently arrested for falsification of documents or for submission of fake negative RT-PCR test results.
The said tourists were apprehended in their hotel in Boracay after the Validating Team of the province confirmed that the COVID-19 negative test results of the eight individuals were not issued by the hospital/laboratory registered in the latter’s documents.
The eight tourists were immediately brought to Aklan Training Center for mandatory quarantine and were taken swab samples for COVID-19 tests.
In a press release, Caticlan Port Administrator lawyer Selwyn Ibarreta appealed for the help of shipping companies to strictly monitor tourists trying to enter Boracay Island using fake COVID-19 test results.
Ibarreta also said that there may be syndicates operating in selling fake negative COVID-19 test result so he urged everyone to be vigilant especially to tourists entering Boracay Island.
In December last year, eight tourists were also apprehended for faking their COVID-19 negative test results; two were nabbed on December 29 and six on December 7.
Meanwhile, the Malay Municipal Tourism Office reported that from December 1-31, 2020 the tourist arrivals in Boracay reached 15,307.PIA-Aklan
