Guvarra orders NBI to help DOH with contact tracing, investigate nCoV fake news
By Jeffrey Damicog
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday (Feb. 5) that coordination with other government agencies is needed to find persons who are suspected to be infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (Screenshot / RTVM / PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He pointed this out after having issued on Tuesday (Feb. 4) Department Order (DO) No. 052 directing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to help the Department of Health (DOH) track down these persons.
“The NBI will touch base with the DOH directly,” Guevarra said.
“Contact tracing can be completed in a couple of days, provided there’s efficient coordination among the DOH, the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board), the airline companies, the DILG LGUs , the PNP (Philippine National Police), and the NBI,” he explained.
In the order, the justice secretary directed the NBI “to coordinate with the Department of Health and provide such technical assistance as may be needed by the said agency in the contact tracing of individuals with the 2019-nCoV ARD, especially passengers who were on board the same flights as the Philippines’ two confirmed 2019-nCoV ARD cases.”
He also instructed the NBI “to conduct an investigation and case build-up on alleged deliberate spread of misinformation and fake news about the 2019-nCoV ARD and false reporting of 2019-nCoV ARD cases and, if evidence warrants, to file appropriate charges against persons responsible therefor.”
Guevarra told NBI Director Dante Gierran to submit directly to the former “reports on the progress of the subject investigation, case build-up, and assistance.”
The DOH recently reported that the number of persons under investigation (PUI) for possible nCoV infection has reached 133. Three people have tested positive, and one of them has died.
READ MORE: DOH confirms Chinese woman 3rd case of nCoV in PH
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (Screenshot / RTVM / PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He pointed this out after having issued on Tuesday (Feb. 4) Department Order (DO) No. 052 directing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to help the Department of Health (DOH) track down these persons.
“The NBI will touch base with the DOH directly,” Guevarra said.
“Contact tracing can be completed in a couple of days, provided there’s efficient coordination among the DOH, the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board), the airline companies, the DILG LGUs , the PNP (Philippine National Police), and the NBI,” he explained.
In the order, the justice secretary directed the NBI “to coordinate with the Department of Health and provide such technical assistance as may be needed by the said agency in the contact tracing of individuals with the 2019-nCoV ARD, especially passengers who were on board the same flights as the Philippines’ two confirmed 2019-nCoV ARD cases.”
He also instructed the NBI “to conduct an investigation and case build-up on alleged deliberate spread of misinformation and fake news about the 2019-nCoV ARD and false reporting of 2019-nCoV ARD cases and, if evidence warrants, to file appropriate charges against persons responsible therefor.”
Guevarra told NBI Director Dante Gierran to submit directly to the former “reports on the progress of the subject investigation, case build-up, and assistance.”
The DOH recently reported that the number of persons under investigation (PUI) for possible nCoV infection has reached 133. Three people have tested positive, and one of them has died.
READ MORE: DOH confirms Chinese woman 3rd case of nCoV in PH