Palace warns quarantine violators face jail time

Malacañang warned that returning travelers who violate COVID-19 quarantine protocols may face imprisonment, according to Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra stated that quarantine violators are liable under Republic Act No. 11332, also known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act, and suspects that recent incidents are not isolated cases.

The NBI is investigating such incidents, Guevarra added.

Violators could face fines ranging from PHP20,000 to PHP50,000, imprisonment for one to six months, or both, depending on the court's decision.

This warning comes after reports of at least two Filipinos returning from the US skipping mandatory quarantine, with one later testing positive and infecting others.