MANILA — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested two Chinese nationals on Saturday, February 8, for selling unregistered medicines in Parañaque City.
CIDG agents conducted a buy-bust operation at Concorde Village, Tambo, where they seized various medicines, including OTC 999 – Ganmaoling Keli, Glucophage – Metformin Hydrochloride tablets, and Zhibai Dihuang pills.
The total value of the unregistered drugs, which lacked Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration, was estimated at P15,000.
The suspects, identified as Hu and Quan, will face charges for violating the FDA Act of 2009, which prohibits the sale and distribution of unregistered drugs.
CIDG Chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre emphasized the importance of public vigilance and urged citizens to report suspicious activities involving unregistered medicines to protect public health and strengthen the pharmaceutical sector.
In separate news, the Quezon City Police District reported the arrest of 218 suspects in anti-crime operations between February 2 and 8.
This included 64 wanted persons, 74 gamblers, 75 drug suspects, and five individuals for illegal possession of firearms.
The operations also led to the confiscation of illegal drugs worth PHP 2.06 million. Additionally, Metro Manila’s top 10 most wanted fugitives were apprehended during the first week of February.
ia/mnm
By Junex Doronio
ANTICIPATING THE LEVELLING UP of vote buying in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has alerted electronic wallet operators to monitor ‘suspicious” high-volume transactions, especially in the days prior to election day.
At the same time, Comelec Chairman George Garcia sternly warned GCash, Maya and other companies involved in mobile payment services that they may face charges for conspiracy to commit vote buying.
“Doon sa mga panibagong pamamaraan ng vote buying, tulad ng by way of GCash or online banking, kasama po namin sa Committee on Kontra Bigay ay Anti-Money Laundering Council at Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. earlier said in a press briefing.
He also disclosed that the Comelec is already finalizing its rules and regulations on the penalties for vote buying for the BSKE in October, which will now cover online money transfers.
The Omnibus Election Code penalizes vote buying or selling with up to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and prohibition from exercising the right to vote.
Any political party found guilty of engaging in such acts shall pay a fine of not less than ₱10,000.
Considering that Omnibus Election Code was approved in 1985 and does not cover modern schemes of bribing during elections, the Comelec sees the need to also level up the law. (ai/mnm)