Mika Salamanca arrested in Honolulu for breaking quarantine rules
27 Jul – Filipino YouTuber Mika Salamanca (real name Anne S. Salamanca) has been apprehended in Honolulu, Hawaii after violating quarantine rules.
As reported on ABS-CBN, the social media influencer who has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram, was arrested on Friday 24 July after posting a TikTok video of her dancing in a store, despite her obligatory 14-day quarantine.
Salamanca reportedly arrived in Honolulu from Manila on 6 July, and was revealed to have been out in public four days after.
In a statement released on Instagram prior to her arrest, Salamanca defended herself, saying that she was told by a local police that she can go out if she tested negative for COVID-19.
This has been denied by the investigators of the case.
Attorney General Clare E. Connors said, "The fact that Ms. Salamanca has so many followers makes her actions that much more dangerous and concerning. The spread of misinformation can have very severe consequences during an emergency situation like we are in now."
She had since posted bail of USD 2,000.
On the other hand, netizens who saw her video explaining the situation commented that it was no excuse for Salamanca to leave her quarantine whether or not she was tested negative, as it was the rules.
Meanwhile, her fans continued to express their support for the YouTuber, saying that it was all a misunderstanding.
(Photo Source: Mika Salamanca Instagram)
