By Jeffrey Damicog
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will be tasked to find and run after secret illegal medical facilities in the country, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday, May 28.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Guevarra gave the directive after the Philippine National Police (PNP) discovered some of these clandestine facilities which were believed catering to foreigners afflicted with the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“It seems that clandestine medical clinics catering mostly to foreign nationals have sprouted and have been operating without proper authority,” the Secretary observed.
Since these medical facilities are not supervised by the government, Guevarra lamented that “it is possible that the health of people who seek treatment in these illegal facilities is being compromised.”
“I will therefore ask the NBI and the BI to help the police in locating other similar underground clinics and the people running them, and if warranted, to file the appropriate charges against them,” he said.
Last Tuesday night, May 26, the PNP raided the Goldstar Medical Clinic and Pharmacy in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City which was found to be unregistered.
PNP operatives arrested two Chinese nationals from the clinic and were identified as David Lai and Bruce Liao, who were operating the establishment.
Prior this, the PNP also raided last May 19 a clandestine illegal facility inside the Fontana Resort and Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Police also arrested during the operation two Chinese nationals operating the facility identified as Hu Ling and Lee Seung Hung.