By Jeffrey Damicog
Some P4.4 million worth of allegedly overpriced con-contact thermal scanners have been seized by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the arrest of a Chinese national accused of selling these items.
(NBI / MANILA BULLETIN)
NBI Director Eric Distor identified the arrested suspect as Chen Tian Man, a Chinese national.
Distor said the suspect was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI’s environmental crime division in Quezon City last April 2.
Distor said the suspect has been selling the thermal scanners at P4,400 per unit despite the price range allowed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which is from P599 to P3,400 per unit.
The suspect was present for inquest before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for violating Article 50(j) in relation to Article 60 of Republic Act 7349, the Consumer Act of the Philippines; Section 5(2) of R.A. 7581, The Price Act of the Philippines; and and Section 6(c) of R.A. 11469, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Distor said the NBI’s criminal investigation division also arrested last April 1 four persons selling overpriced alcohol during an entrapment operation in Caloocan City.
Those arrested were identified as John Derick dela Rosa, Jomel Tapispisan, Sarah Grace Papispisan and Nathaniel Palingkod.
He said the four suspects were reportedly selling two drums of 100 percent ethyl alcohol for P37,500 each despite the DTI’s allowed selling price of P25,000 per drum.
They were brought before the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office for inquest.