Task force cracks down on persons faking medical certificates, travel authority

September 9, 2020

Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Thursday ordered a crackdown on persons and groups engaged in manufacturing fake  medical clearance certificate and travel authority amid complaints of uncoordinated travels to the provinces.

 Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, said police commanders must ensure that those who would be arrested are charged and be denied with any opportunity to go back to their illegal activities as fake documents may contribute to mass infection in the area of destinations of the travelers.

Based on the task force's data, more than 46 individuals were arrested for manufacturing fake Inter-Agency Task Force identification cards, IATF pass, travel authority, medical clearance certificate and other documents for community quarantine exemption.

Eleazar reiterated that a travel authority is needed by locally stranded individuals (LSIs) if their travel involves crossing the borders of Metro Manila, a province and a highly-urbanized city. Ella Dionisio/DMS