Bacolod City Administrator Em Ang said on Sunday, September 19, that authorities are investigating the fake sealing off of a house at City Heights Subdivision with yellow caution tape for purportedly having a COVID-19 positive resident.
Ang said she was informed by Councilor Lady Gles Pallen on Friday that the distressed family called to ask why their house was sealed off when no member had tested positive for COVID-19.
The family was then informed that none of the residents of their home was on the COVID-19 line list, and it was not the barangay that sealed off the house, Ang added.
Ang said she advised Pallen to seek the police and National Bureau of Investigation to help catch the culprits, and to see if CCTV cameras in the area captured the incident.
The letter given to the family said “the district learned today that a staff member under your business has tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member is currently in self-quarantine. Due to federal health policy laws, information regarding the staff member‘s identity cannot be released.”
“Even without developing symptoms we require you to go under quarantine for 14 days,” it added.
The unsigned letter given to the family screamed fake as it even mentioned “federal” policy so it obviously was just copied from some online article, Ang said.
She warned the public against “these unscrupulous person/s that, in the midst of a pandemic, have the guts to carry out such despicable acts of deceit causing undue stress and anxiety to unsuspecting victims. They are taking ‘prank’ to a new level of viciousness.”
At a time when we are facing a serious public health crisis, it is unacceptable that some people use this for their own entertainment or worse, some sick perversion, she added.
“Everyone must cooperate in our fight to stop COVID-19 from further affecting our city, and refrain from causing more panic and confusion,” she said.
If there are others victimized by such pranksters they should immediately report the matter to the barangay or the police, Ang said.*