By Jeffrey Damicog
Three Chinese nationals, including a person claiming to be a doctor, have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at a warehouse in Pampanga which was found supplying medicines and equipment to underground medical facilities.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) (MANILA BULLETIN)
The NBI’s Central Luzon Regional Office (NBI-CELRO) identified the person arrested as Zidong Guo, 53, who they said claimed to be a doctor.
He was arrested on Thursday, June 4, during an entrapment operation conducted by the agents of the NBI-CELRO at a warehouse in Clarkhills at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
Also arrested were two of his customers who were identified as Chen Weiming, 31, and Hong Qiao Ling, 28.
The NBI-CELRO said the operation was conducted after it received information that the “warehouse was the supplier and source of the makeshift medical facilities that were raided by the authorities, weeks ago at Barangay Anunas, Angeles City and Fontana, Clark, Mabalacat City.”
The two underground facilities allegedly catered to Chinese nationals including those infected with the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The NBI-CELRO also seized Chinese medicines, food and cosmetic products from the warehouse and from the Super Market No. Nineth also in Clark Freeport Zone where these are being sold.
Citing inventory conducted by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the NBI-CELRO said “the items are estimated to be worth more or less twenty million pesos.”
In the meantime, the three Chinese nationals remain detained at the NBI-CELRO detention facility.
All three will be charged for violating Republic Act 2383, the Medical Act of 1959 and RA 3720, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by RA 9711, the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009.