2 sellers of fake swab test results nabbed in Cebu City

BY CALVIN D. CORDOVA

CEBU CITY – Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) arrested Thursday two men for allegedly producing and selling fake swab test results.

First to fall was Rakim Busara, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation in downtown Cebu City.

Busara was nabbed in a shop on Colon Street where copies of fake real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results were printed.

After the operation in Colon, NBI-7 agents conducted a follow-up operation and arrested Busara’s alleged cohort Rogelio Nebres who was selling falsified documents in Pier 1.

NBI Regional Director Renan Oliva said each falsified document is being sold at P1,500.

Oliva said that prior to their arrests, San Miguel, Bohol Mayor and former NBI Director Virgilio Mendez reported to the NBI-7 that fake swab test results were being sold at Pier 1 in Cebu City.

These fake swab test results were sold to passengers bound for Bohol.

Oliva said charges of estafa through falsification of public documents and violation of the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 will be filed against the two suspects. (Calvin D. Cordova)