ASPAP clarifies fake news in POGO coronavirus testing

MANILA, Philippines – The Accredited Service Providers of PAGCOR (ASPAP) branded as fake news social media posts saying the local government was behind the COVID-19 tests of POGO staff in an exclusive subdivision in Parañaque City.

ASPAP belied the claims and said funds for the testing of POGO workers came from their service providers.

“In compliance with the protocols for the limited resumption of POGO operations laid down by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), our members are conducting COVID-19 tests on POGO workers at zero cost to the government,” said ASPAP spokesperson Atty. Margarita Gutierrez.

The local government of Parañaque City confirmed this, saying they will not spend any amount of money for the purpose of mass testing POGO workers.

“The public can rest easy knowing that mass testing of POGO employees is a purely private undertaking conducted at the expense of the respective employers,” Gutierrez added.

Spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis in social media or on other platforms is a violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469). Violators can be imprisoned for up to two months and can be fined up to P1 million.