By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested two Chinese nationals allegedly involved in selling unregistered medicines in Metro Manila.
Agents of the CIDG-Detective and Special Operations Unit nabbed suspects Hu and Quan in a buy-bust at Concorde Village, Tambo, Parañaque City past midnight Saturday.
According to a news release Sunday, the CIDG agents confiscated two boxes of OTC 999 – Ganmaoling Keli, 20 boxes of Glucophage – Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-release tablets, two boxes of Amlodepine Besilate tablets, three boxes of Linou – Gliclazide tablets, two boxes of OTC – Longdan Xiegan pills, four boxes of Zhibai Dihuang pills, one box of Bear Bile powder, 12 boxes Diamicron – Gliclazide tablets and 16 boxes Bayaspirin – Aspirin Enteric-coated tablets.
The medicines, with an estimated market value of PHP15,000, are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Section 11 of Republic Act 9711 (FDA Act of 2009) which prohibits manufacturing, importation, export, sale, distribution and transfer of unregistered drugs.
CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to the sale of unregistered medicines.
“We will enforce all laws to protect the health of the public and help strengthen the pharmaceutical sector,” Torre said.
Campaigns vs. illegal drugs, crimes
In another news release, the Quezon City Police District reported 218 suspects were arrested in a series of operations on Feb. 2 to 8.
Fifty anti-drug operations led to the arrest of 64 wanted persons, 74 gamblers, 75 drug suspects and five for illegal possession of firearms.
Also confiscated were illegal drugs worth PHP2.06 million.
On Saturday, the National Capital Region Office said relentless anti-crime campaigns netted Metro Manila’s 10 most wanted fugitives in the first week of February.
Arrested were No. 1 most wanted person alias Ryan, 42, for murder; alias Tintin (No. 2), murder; alias Bugoy (No. 3), murder; alias Michael (No. 4), murder; alias Elmer (No. 5), rape; alias Peter (No. 6), acts of laciviousness; alias Jennifer (No. 7), rape; alias Marlon (No. 8), rape; alias Dudong (No. 9), rape; and alias Julio (No. 10), frustrated murder. (PNA)
