Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Tuesday arrested nine individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of Covid-19 test kits in Quezon City.
In his report to PNP chief General Debold Sinas, CIDG Director Major Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro identified the suspects as Marize Santiago, 28; Joshua Raphael Bautista Ramirez, 21; Zeus Catamora Jimena, 27; John Vincent Almante Sumalabe, 23; Rio Joyce Mingay Perando, 20; Hermogenes Rivero Villordon, 28; Jomari Pareja Estrada, 21; John Marthy De Jesus Parentela, 22 and John Paolo Solibaga San Pedro, 28.
The nine were arrested by policemen during an entrapment operation at 22 Scout Bayoran, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City.
The operation against the suspects stemmed from reports about the unauthorized distribution and selling of unproven illegally marketed medical devices such as Joinstar, Clungene rapid test kit, Innovita anti-body test, Sanli disposable virus specimen and Wondfo rapid test kit, which were also placed advertised through an online selling web site.
Ferro said the nine suspects were arrested after they received payment from a police undercover, who ordered through online 30 boxes of Clungene rapid test kit, with each box containing 20 sets of test kit, amounting to P204,000.
During the operation, the policemen recovered the marked money and assorted volume of unauthorized rapid test kits with an estimated market value of P30,000,000.
The suspects, the CIDG, said failed to show their license to operate or special permit to sell and distribute the test kits as required by the Food and Drug Administration.
One of the suspects, Santiago, was found to be connected to a Chinese online selling group that offers unauthorized rapid test kits for Covid-19.
“This operation is part of our continued efforts to run after those who take advantage of the pandemic to earn money by illegally marketing medical devices through illegal online selling by unauthorized online sellers of Covid-19 rapid test kit,” Sinas said.
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