PUM arrested after fleeing from quarantine site

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – A person under monitoring (PUM) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was arrested after escaping mandatory quarantine at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia, Negros Occidental Thursday.

Police identified the PUM as Felix Alejo, a resident of Bacolod City.

A PUM is a person who has no signs and symptoms but has travel history to infected areas.

Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director, said Alejo was arrested through the help of netizens.

Alejo was one of the 84 Negrenses who arrived Thursday via Cebu Pacific flight after getting stranded due to the lockdown imposed on Luzon.

Baleros said Alejo boarded a bus for Mambukal Resort. However, at around 5:00 p.m. he received a call from Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz informing him that Alejo escaped.

The police immediately conducted a manhunt operation.

Baleros also appealed on social media to be on the lookout for Alejo.

He said it didn’t take long for them to receive information that the PUM was hiding in his home at Camella Homes Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan.

Police along with several provincial officials immediately went to Alejo’s home and arrested him.

When Baleros talked to Alejo, the PUM told him that the quarantine was supposed to be only for those from the National Capital Region.

Alejo said he asked the guard on duty at Mambukal if those from Pampanga are also covered in the quarantine and when the guard was not able to provide a clear answer, he escaped.

Baleros said anyone, regardless if they originated or not from Metro Manila, are to be as considered PUMs since there is presently a strict quarantine control in Negros Occidental.

Alejo is still confined in the Mambukal Resort and could face charges for violating Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) as well as Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for Resistance and Disobedience to a Person or Agents of Authority.