Councilor proposes penalty for use of fake vaccination card

August 15, 2021 Metro BLISTT

Councilor Joel Alangsab has proposed an ordinance seeking to penalize those who use fake, tampered, or forged vaccination cards to enter the city or to avail of any incentives or discounts being offered to fully vaccinated individuals.
Under the proposed ordinance, erring individuals shall be fined P5,000,00 or imprisoned for a period not less than six months, or both, at the discretion of the court. If applicable, cancellation of the individual’s business permit shall also be imposed. The ordinance shall apply to all persons who live or sojourn in the City of Baguio.
The implementing offices shall be the Baguio City Police Office, Public Order and Safety Division, and the Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor’s Office.
Under the advisory issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government dated July 16, 2021, every local
government unit is enjoined to“[e]nact an ordinance providing for penalties for those who tamper or forge authentic
vaccination cards, as well as those who present the same.”
The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading and referred to the Sanggunian’s Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection for review.
Earlier, Mayor Benjamin Magalong gave a stern warning to anyone who might attempt to use a fake vaccination card or passport in any transaction including gaining entry to the city.
He said the city is ready to press charges against these unscrupulous individuals. The mayor was quoted saying the city’s triage is equipped to determine the authenticity of vaccination cards by double checking the QR codes and validating the hotline numbers indicated in the cards.
He added that holders of cards that cannot be validated through these means will have to undergo testing and will be turned away if they refuse.
The use of fake vaccination cards or passports is prohibited and punishable under the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815), specifically under Article 172 (Falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents); Article 174 (False medical certificates, false certificates of merits or service, etc.); and Article 175 (Using false certificates).
Jordan G. Habbiling with reports from Aileen Refuerzo