By Jean Fernando
Three persons engaged in selling overpriced face masks and alcohol were arrested by members of the Intelligence Section of the Las Pinas City police in a separate entrapment operation.
Police identified the suspects as Harold Villanueva, 35, of 29 Number St., BF Martinville Subdivision, Munuyo 2, Las Pinas City; Jay Bonn Agbulos , 36, of B7 L20, San Francisco St., Metrocor Homes, Barangay Almanza 2, Las Pinas City, and Brian Maglaya, 30, of 3080 Jade St., San Antonio Homes, Barangay BF International/CAA, Las Pinas City.
According to the city police chief, Colonel Segundo Lagundi, the suspects were all detained at their custodial facility and charges of violation of RA7581 that was amended by RA 10623 and RA7394 (Consumers Act) and Proclamation Number 922 was filed against them.
Lagundi said that Villauneva was first arrested by members of the Intelligence Section at about 7:20 p.m. at a parking lot of SM Southmall in Almanza I, Las Pinas City.
Confiscated from Villanueva were eight gallons of alcohol being sold at a price P625 per gallon with a suggested retail price of P450. The city police chief said that after 10 minutes, Agbulos and Maglaya were arrested by the same team at about 7:30 p.m. at Alabang-Zapote Road, Barangay Almanza Uno, Las Pinas City. They confiscated from 120 boxes of facemasks.
Lagundi came out with a warning to city residents not to take advantage of selling overpriced alcohol and facemasks while the country is under the state of public health emergency due to the spread of COVID19. He said that the police will continue to conduct monitoring on the implementation of national price freeze.