Power firm’s sub-contractors nabbed for ‘fake’ travel papers

The sub-contractors of Iloilo City’s power distributor, MORE Electric and Power Corp., were arrested Sunday for allegedly faking their travel authorities and other documents required upon arrival in Iloilo City.

Jeck Conlu, head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) and spokesperson of the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team, said the two sub-contractors traveled from Manila and arrived in Iloilo City on Sunday onboard a van.

Based on the documents seized by the Covid-19 team, the contractors were Jackson L. Pua and Renerose J. Seno, both of Quezon City, Metro Manila.

According to Conlu, they nabbed the two sub-contractors after examining their alleged fake documents which included a notice of coordination and travel authority.

Under current community quarantine rules, travellers from other regions are required to secure travel authority from the police in their home address and notice of coordination from their destinations.

The travel authority was signed by Major General Debold Sinas, National Capital Regional Police Office chief, and was issued on December 4, 2020.

Conlu explained that the signatory was anomalous as Sinas was already the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief effective November 10, 2020.

Aside from this, control numbers of the documents were also outdated, Conlu added.

“Duha sila ang aton nga nadakpan nga may mga peke nga dokumento nga notice of coordination and travel authority. Mga sub-contractor and supplier kuno sila sang MORE Power and ang rason nila ang MORE Power ang nagprocess sang ila documents,” Conlu said.

Conlu said that this is a stern warning to everyone who will be arriving in Iloilo City to secure authentic documents as the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team is strictly monitoring those who enter the metro.

“Warning na ini sa mga gusto pa nga magpeke sang documents kay kami strikto gid kami nga gabantay,” he stressed.

In a statement, MORE Power confirmed that the two arrested persons were indeed its contractors who will install parts in the man-lift trucks that the distribution utility uses to repair its distribution lines.

But the power firm said the contractors are the ones who handle their travel papers, particularly the travel authority from the PNP and the notice of coordination with the local government.

Meanwhile, all locally stranded individuals (LSIs), authorized person outside residence (APOR), and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (ROFs) who wish to travel to Iloilo City may contact the Iloilo City Covid-19 Emergency Operations Center through their email, covid19opceniloilo@gmail.com and phone numbers 09190662333 and 09291706363 for the needed documents. (ERS)