Para±aque city: The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) announced the arrest of two foreign nationals over alleged illegal practice of medicine in Para±aque City.
According to Philippines News Agency, CIDG Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano stated that the suspects, Thao Anh, a 31-year-old female, and Dong Xuan, a 29-year-old male, were apprehended for violating Republic Act (RA) 4224, also known as The Medical Act of 1959. The arrests occurred during a police operation at Diamond Bay Tower in Para±aque City on August 25. The suspects had allegedly posed as medical doctors, performing examinations, injecting substances, dispensing medicines, and providing whitening treatments without the necessary authority or license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).
During the operation, authorities discovered and confiscated various medical items, including vials of Clostridium botulinum, boxes of syringes with needles, tablets of Zinnat and Robmedril, capsules of assorted medicines, whitening creams, and equipment. The total estimated value of the confiscated items is PHP150,000.
On a related note, Abrahano reported that the CIDG Batangas Provincial Field Unit, in collaboration with the Batangas Provincial Intelligence Unit, arrested four individuals-Veronica, Divina, John Lloyd, and Melecio-on suspicion of possessing, trading, and selling alleged stolen drone and surveying equipment. This operation took place on August 26 along Bypass Road in Barangay Inosluban, Lipa City, Batangas, and involved a violation of the Anti-Fencing Law.
Abrahano noted that back in September 2021, a person named Lory had acquired surveying equipment, including a drone valued at PHP4.7 million, on credit from Tecphil Geosolutions Co. After the delivery to Lory's residence in Pampanga, she allegedly disappeared and left the debt unpaid. The complainant, Tecphil Geosolutions Co., later discovered that the equipment was being advertised for sale online by Veronica for PHP3 million to a group of geodetic engineers.
The four suspects were apprehended in possession of the equipment, which included a M300 RTIL drone, propellers, remote controls, a Tersus Base RTK unit, batteries, a Geosun Lidar with antenna, and other accessories. Additionally, police found a caliber 45 pistol, magazine, and live ammunition on Melecio, who failed to produce documentation or permits for the firearm.
The suspects face charges under Presidential Decree 1612 (Anti-Fencing Law), with an extra charge against Melecio for violating RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
