TACLOBAN CITY — Police arrested five people, including three Chinese nationals, and seized health products worth an estimated P96,205 in separate operations targeting the alleged sale and distribution of products without the required authorization in Tacloban City.
The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) reported the arrests on Oct.9 following operations conducted on Thursday by the Tacloban City Police Office’s City Intelligence Unit and Police Station 2, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The operations were carried out in Barangay 40 along P. Burgos Street and Barangay 13, also known as the Shopping Center area.
Police identified the suspects as three Chinese nationals known by the aliases “Wen,” 50; “Xin,” 26; and “Ming,” 36, and two Filipino women identified as “Sheng,” 21, and “Jo,” 26, both residents of Tacloban City.
Authorities confiscated health products allegedly being sold or distributed without the necessary FDA authorization, with the total value estimated at P96,205.
The suspects face alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, which provides for the regulation of health products and prohibits certain activities involving products without the required authorization.
Police said an inventory of the seized items was conducted at the scene in accordance with established procedures and in the presence of the required witnesses.
PRO-8 director Brig. Gen. Romano V. Cardiño said the police would continue coordinating with regulatory agencies to prevent the distribution of unauthorized health products and protect consumers from potentially unsafe items.
He urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing health-related products and report suspicious sales activities to authorities.
Consumers were also advised to check whether health products have the necessary FDA authorization before buying them, particularly those offered by unauthorized vendors and unverified online sellers.
The regional police office said joint enforcement operations with regulatory agencies would continue to ensure compliance with laws governing the sale and distribution of health products.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
