PROTOCOL BREACH | Girl admits to skipping quarantine to party in Makati, says DOT

December 31, 2021 , 11:36 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(December 31, 2021) – The woman who reportedly skipped her mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Makati to attend a party has already admitted to her violation after infecting other individuals who were at the same event, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Thursday.

DOT secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the woman identified as Gwyneth Chua, who returned to the Philippines from the United States, has already been transferred to an isolation facility after testing positive for COVID-19.

“She told her friends she had connections daw kaya she could cut quarantine,” said Romulo-Puyat on One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang. “On her fifth day, bumalik sa hotel, nagpa-swab, nag-positive. ‘Yung ibang nakasama niya, nag-positive din. In fact, ‘yung (ibang mga tao sa) establishments, nag-positive din sila roon. Ang daming nag-positive because of the girl.”

On Thursday, the DOT issued a show-cause order to Berjaya Makati Hotel, where Chua was supposed to complete her required quarantine, to let the establishment explain the incident. The hotel has yet to issue a public statement but it was given three days to respond to the DOT.

If found liable, it could face penalties such as fines and suspension of accreditation. Hotel officials and other persons involved could also face imprisonment.

Romulo-Puyat said the hotel initially denied that Chua, who was admitted on December 22, went out despite her mandatory quarantine, but the persons who were at the party held in the hip Poblacion area on December 23 signed affidavits that she was with them. Some photos posted on social media have since been taken down. Chua tested positive for COVID-19 on December 27.

“Gusto kong malaman kung bakit nakawala (sa hotel). Kasi dapat nga (kapag) quarantine hotel, dapat strict sa health and safety protocols, hindi siya (Chua) nakakatakas,” said Romulo-Puyat.

Dr. Roberto Salvador of the Bureau of Quarantine said they already have a case prepared against Chua.

Aside from the DOT, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government are also looking into the protocol breach. The DOH, in a statement, reminded the public that “now is not the time to relax and deliberately put others in danger.”

The DOH noted a rising trend in COVID-19 cases but attributed it to increased mobility and non-compliance with minimum public health standards. Some experts, however, said the Omicron variant can’t be ruled out as a possible driver of the surge.

Romulo-Puyat said they also heard tips about “absentee quarantine” but admitted information is still limited.

“Marami namang nagkukuwento but whenever we ask them what hotel, what name, hindi naman sila nagbibigay ng pangalan. It was only this time na nagbigay ng pangalan at sworn affidavit,” said Romulo-Puyat. “Umamin din naman siya (Chua), I saw na umamin na siya finally na she skipped quarantine.”

(PM)

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