By Jeffrey Damicog
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Eric Distor announced on Thursday, March 26 the arrest of three persons for allegedly selling overpriced thermal scanners.
Distor identified the suspects as Li Chunyang, Zhang Zhibin and Lu Youjun, all Chinese nationals.
He said the three suspects were arrested by the NBI’s Special Action Unit (NBI-SAU) during an entrapment operation that was conducted last Tuesday, March 24, at a hotel along Benavidez St. In Binondo.
NBI agents seized from them 50 pieces of thermal scanners which were being sold for a total of P300,000 or at a unit price of P6,000 each.
The NBI noted that market price of thermal scanners ranges from P500 to P1,035.
Distor said that the operation was conducted after the NBI-SAU received information about the alleged illegal activities.
The NBI agents acting as buyers reached out to the sellers and agreed to meet them in Binondo to complete the sale.
After the marked money was received by the suspects, the NBI agents arrested them.
The NBI presented the three suspects before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for inquest on charges of violating Republic Act 10623, the Price Act; and RA 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
Distor also reported that the NBI arrested four persons last March 21 during separate operations in Manila on suspicion of selling overpriced isopropyl alcohol online.
He identified the four suspects as Dan Cesista Gabayron, David Lianzon Almo Jr. Victor Rulloda Rugas, and Mark Jhairrous Ferry Catigday.
Gabayron and Almo were arrested by the NBI’s Cyber Crime Divison (NBI-CCD) during an entrapment operation at the Paco Catholic Church for allegedly selling 20 500ml bottles of isopropyl alcohol for P130 each despite the market price of between P61 to P74.25.
The NBI-CCD also arrested in separate entrapment operations Rugas and Catigday for delivering 10 gallons of isopropyl alcohol at allegedly excessive rates ranging from P6,500 and P7,500 per unit, respectively.