'Poblacion girl' pleads guilty, gets P20,000 fine for skipping quarantine to party
Nine months after skipping mandatory quarantine to party in Makati, Gwyneth Chua has pleaded guilty before the Makati Regional Trial Court, apologizing for the "hassle" she caused.
In May, a complaint was filed against her in violation of Section 9 of the Republic Act. No. 11332 or the "Law of Reporting Communicable Diseases."
The Berjaya Makati Hotel security guard also faced charges for "assisting the escape of Gwyneth from the quarantine facility."
Chua appeared in court on Sept. 5 to plead guilty to breaching quarantine protocols. She was fined P20,000 and apologized for the hassle she caused, according to Assistant City Prosecutor Rafael Rodrigo Esguerra.
On the other hand, the case against security guard Esteban Gatbonton, who allegedly allowed Chua to go out, will continue. He pleaded not guilty.
In December 2021, Chua, coming home from the United States, left her hotel on her second day of quarantine to attend a gathering in Poblacion.
Later, she tested positive for COVID-19, infecting 15 of her close contacts with the virus. She was infamously dubbed "Poblacion Girl."
Violating RA No. 11332 would be penalized with a fine ranging from P20,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment of one to six months, or both.