BY NOEL TALACAY
PARAÑAQUE police on Sunday night raided two establishments in Barangay Baclaran, which were reportedly illegally operating as clinics and confiscated boxes of medical contraband, including medicines for respiratory illnesses and sexually transmitted diseases.
The first raid was prompted by a complaint filed by a certain Epigenia Caretas, supposedly a house staff of Liang Yumei, a Chinese, who was renting an apartment in barangay Baclaran. Caretas allegedly complained went to the barangay center to seek their assistance as her quarantine pass was supposedly confiscated. Since she was purportedly not wearing a face mask, barangay leaders escorted her back to the apartment to get one.
The barangay officials saw boxes of illegal Chinese medicines when Caretas went inside the apartment, which they later found out was being used as a medical stockroom. The barangay leaders called the Paranaque police, who arrested the Chinese tenant.
Seized in the stockroom were 200 boxes of assorted medicines for respiratory illnesses allegedly being used as a possible treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019, and medicines supposedly being used to treat STD and HIV-AIDS.
There were likewise boxes of medicines of antibiotics and anti-viral drugs. The boxes also contained medical supplies from China such as dextrose and syringe. Also found inside the stockroom were chairs with IV stands.
After the apartment was closed down, police and city authorities also raided another similar clinic at 2555 Lt. Garcia street, also in Barangay Baclaran.
Police found a Chinese man claiming to be a doctor in the second clinic. The Chinese presented his doctor’s license in China. Assorted boxes of Chinese medicine were also found here.
City executives said charges will be filed against the owners of the two rented establishments for violating quarantine laws, medical regulations, and for operating without necessary permits. The confiscated boxes of medicine will be turned over to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for testing.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez has requested the Bureau of Immigration to deport the arrested Chinese.
