THE Makati City Prosecution Office has found probable cause to indict Gwyneth Anne Chua, the controversial “Poblacion girl,” for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Chua, a returning overseas Filipino from the United States, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on December 22, 2021 and was supposed to be quarantined at Berjaya Hotel in Makati.
However, on December 23, 2021, she was seen attending a party with friends in Poblacion, Makati and was tested positive for Covid-19 three days after.
Aside from Chua, the Makati City Prosecution Office also found probable cause to indict Esteban Gatbonton, a security guard of Berjaya Hotel, for assisting the breakout of Chua from the quarantine facility.
“In a resolution dated April 29, 2022, the Makati City Prosecution Office found probable cause to charge Gwyneth Anne Chua with violation of Section 9 of RA 11332 for defying the directives of the authorities on mandatory quarantine,” the Office of the Makati Prosecutor said.
The charges stemmed from the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) for violation of RA 11332 and its implementing rules and regulations.
Also included as respondents in the complaint were Chua’s parents Allan Dabiwong Chua and Gemma Leonordo-Chua, her boyfriend Rico Atienza and hotel staff namely Gladiolyn Biala (resident manager), Salvador Sabayo (assistant front office manager), Tito Arboleda (security manager), Hannah Araneta (front desk counter personnel) and Gatbonton.
Based on the complaint it was Chua’s father who fetched her from the hotel on December 22, 2021, while her mother accompanied her back to the hotel on December 25, 2021.
Atienza, on the other hand, was with Chua in Poblacion on December 23, 2021.
However, the complaint against Chua’s parents and boyfriend was dismissed as the evidence were insufficient to establish that they have violated the provisions of RA 11332.
As to the hotel employees, the complaint against them was also dismissed as the evidence presented by the PNP-CIDG failed to show that they knowingly allowed Chua to leave the hotel premises.