Two Vietnamese nationals were arrested by the Southern Police District (SPD) for posing as doctors and illegally practicing medicine inside a beauty clinic in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City on Thursday, Aug. 7.
The suspects were identified as alias Van, 36, and alias Thi, 35.
Based on the police report, a confidential informant reported the unlicensed medical activities of the suspects, prompting the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) and the Makati City Police to conduct an entrapment operation against the two.
An undercover police officer posing as a customer went to the suspects' clinic and positively confirmed their illegal practices, including botox injections and dermal filler applications without the required license to practice medicine in the Philippines.
Upon their arrest, the suspects failed to present any license or accreditation authorizing them to perform medical procedures in the country.
Police recovered various pieces of evidence from the suspects, including multiple boxes and vials of botulax and botox, mesotherapy solutions and fillers, syringes and microcannula needles along with other surgical supplies, anesthesia, medical tools, official receipts and client forms from the beauty clinic, sales invoices, suspects’ identification cards, and cash consisting of the buy-bust money and recovered clinic funds.
The two were immediately placed under police custody and are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 2382 (The Medical Act of 1959), as amended by RA 4224.
SPD director Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo lauded the swift coordination and precision of the operating units.
“This operation sends a strong message: the illegal practice of medicine will never be tolerated in our jurisdiction. We will protect the public from unlicensed individuals who put lives at risk for profit. The SPD will continue to be vigilant, active, and allied with the community to ensure public safety and uphold the law," Arceo said.
“The Southern Police District urges the public to verify the credentials of medical practitioners before availing of any procedure and to immediately report suspicious medical activities through the SPD hotline or the nearest police station," he added.