3 foreigners arrested for 'illegal practice of medicine' – NBI
Three Vietnamese and South Korean nationals have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for alleged illegal practice of medicine.
The NBI identified them as Vietnamese Nguyen The Thang and Mai Quy Loc who is also known as DO Thi Binh, and South Korean John Suk, also known as John Seuk and Suk Sang Hong.
It said the two Vietnamese were arrested during an operation conducted by the NBI’s Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) at their clinic last Aug. 15 in Paranaque City.
“They were caught in flagrante delicto (caught in the act) while committing the crime,” it also said.
They were charged before the Paranaque Prosecutor’s Office with illegal practice of medicine under Sections 8 and 28 of the Medical Act of 1959 in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; sale of unregistered health products and adulterated or misbranded health products under Section 11(a) of the Food and Drug Administration Act; and dispensing or sale of pharmaceutical products under the Philippine Pharmacy Act.
In the case of the South Korean national, the NBI said that Suk was arrested at his clinic inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
“Since Subject Suk could not present a license or accreditation, he was immediately arrested,” it said.
Seized from his clinic were vaccines, antibiotics and other medicines not registered with the Food and Drugs Authority, and a laptop.
After his arrest, Suk was charged with violations of the Medical Act of 1959, as amended, and the FDA Act of 2009.