By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday announced the arrest of two foreign nationals over alleged illegal practice of medicine in Parañaque City.
In a statement, CIDG Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said the suspects Thao Anh,” female, 31; and “Dong Xuan,” male, 29, were arrested for violation of Republic Act (RA) 4224 (The Medical Act of 1959) during a police operation at Diamond Bay Tower in Parañaque City on Aug. 25.
He said the suspects who posed and misrepresented themselves as medical doctors were caught while engaging in the practice of medicine – performing examinations, injecting substances, dispensing medicines, and conducting whitening treatment without authority or license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).
During the operation, authorities discovered and confiscated assorted vials containing Clostridium botulinum, boxes of syringes with needles, tablets of Zinnat, Robmedril, capsules of assorted medicines, whitening creams and equipment, among others, with an estimated value of PHP150,000.
4 nabbed for ‘fencing’
Meanwhile, Abrahano said the CIDG Batangas Provincial Field Unit, together with the Batangas Provincial Intelligence Unit, arrested four suspects, Veronica, Divina, John Lloyd, and Melecio, for allegedly possessing, trading and selling drone and other surveying equipment, which are allegedly stolen or subject of “fencing” – violation of Anti- Fencing Law during police operation along Bypass Road in Barangay Inosluban, Lipa City, Batangas on Aug. 26.
Abrahno said that in September 2021, a certain “Lory” contracted a financial obligation/credit from Tecphil Geosolutions Co., for surveying equipment including a drone worth PHP4.7 million.
However, after the delivery of the equipment in Lory’s residence in Pampanga, she allegedly disappeared, lost her contact and communication with the complainant, and left the credit unpaid.
Recently, the complainant – owner of the Tecphil Geosolutions Co. – discovered that the same surveying equipment and drone were posted online for sale by “Veronica,” to a group of geodetic engineers for PHP3 million.
During the operation, the four suspects-were caught while in the possession of the subject surveying equipment- including one unit M300 RTIL drone; four pieces of propeller and remote control; one unit of Tersus Base RTK, two units of battery, remote control; one unit of Geosun Lidar with antenna; accessories of the surveying equipment; cellular phone; and other electronic devices, among others.
During the frisking procedure, the police discovered and confiscated a caliber 45 pistol, magazine and live ammunition from the possession of suspect “Melecio.” He failed to show documents or permit to possess the said firearm.
The four arrested suspects were charged before the National Prosecution Service with violations of the Presidential Decree 1612 (Anti-Fencing Law).
An additional charge for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) was filed against Melecio. (PNA)
