By Marie Tonette Marticio
TACLOBAN City - Three department store employees are facing charges after being arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for allegedly selling overpriced and unregistered alcohol in Palo, Leyte.
P/Maj. Duane Francis Ducducan, Intelligence and Investigation Section of CIDG-8 chief said that the two cashiers and the assistant manager of J and F Department Store Corporation located in Barangay Pawing, Palo, Leyte, were arrested in an entrapment operation on Saturday, May 15, at around 11:30 a.m.
The operation stemmed from a complaint of a concerned citizen and a surveillance operation on the establishment, which was selling a gallon of 70 percent alcohol for P999 and half a gallon for P650.
The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have set the price at P520 to P650 for these products in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
A total of 56 gallons and 37 1/2 gallons of unregistered alcohol were confiscated and sealed with DOH-DTI suggested retail price amounting to P38,400 and the actual selling price of P82,642 during the police operation.
Cases for violations of Republic Act 7581 (Price Act); RA 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act); and RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) were filed against the three (3) arrested employees and against the owner, co-owners, incorporators, and manager of J and F Department Store Corporation.