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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte report: Gov't acts vs Chinese nationals for illegal pharmacies, medical facilities

Duterte report: Gov't acts vs Chinese nationals for illegal pharmacies, medical facilities

Published Jun 1, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Duterte highlighted in his 10th report to Congress the government's action against Chinese nationals arrested for running illegal medical establishments as the country battles coronavirus disease (COVID-19). President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 19, 2020. (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte  (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) In his report, Duterte wrote that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has initiated a case-build up against the Chinese nationals who were arrested for running an illegal medical facility at the Fontana Leisure Park in Pampanga. The suspects are facing the possible cancellation of their existing BI-issued visas, charges for undesirability and violating the conditions of stay, initiation of deportation proceedings, and inclusion in the BI's derogatory list. Authorities have arrested Hu Ling, 45, the alleged owner of the facility, and alleged pharmacist Lee Seung-Hyun, 38, for running the underground hospital to treat their fellow Chinese affected by COVID-19. Duterte's report also showed that the government has lodged complaints against two Chinese nationals arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for operating an illegal pharmacy in Angeles City, Pampanga. A criminal complaint of illegal practice of medicine and for operating a medical clinic/hospital and pharmacy in violation of the Medical Act of 1959 and the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act were filed against the suspects before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Angeles City, Pampanga. Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said that the Palace was alarmed by the emergence of illegal Chinese-run medical facilities and pharmacies in the country. "Naaalarma ang Palasyo diyan. Meron po tayong batas na tanging mga kwalipikadong mga doktor lamang ang pwedeng mag-practice ng medisina dito (The Palace is alarmed. We have a law that says only qualified doctors can practice medicine in our country)," he said. "Meron pong pinapataw na pagkakakulong sa mga magpa-practice ng medicine sa mga wala pong lisensya galing sa PRC (Imprisonment also awaits those practicing medicine without a license issued by the Professional Regulation Commission)," he added. President Duterte has ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to act on drug applications, including traditional Chinese medicines, within 48 hours as the situation badly requires a cure for COVID-19.
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