THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) nabbed six individuals said to be unauthorized traders and sellers of rapid antigen kits for COVID-19.
Also confiscated during the CIDG operation were more than P1.2 million worth of Clungene rapid antigen test kits recovered during separate entrapment operations in Cavite and Manila.
On January 19, 2022, Maria Eileen Caballero y Celestial, Mike Anderson Yao y Tan, and Maria Lourdes Judith Capucion y Reyes were nabbed by detectives of the CIDG Cavite Provincial Field Unit (PFU) and Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) Cavite in front of RCBC, Brgy Salinas IV, Bacoor City, Cavite.
Caballero and Yao were arrested at around 1:03 pm for selling two boxes of Clungene, each containing 50 small test kit boxes with an estimated value of P360,000.00 and for possession of marked money inserted in the 719 pieces of P500 boodle money.
Meanwhile, Capucion was arrested at about 8:20 pm for selling two boxes of SD Biosensor, each containing 30 small test kit boxes amounting to P486,000. Also confiscated from her possession were the marked money included in the 971 pieces of P500 boodle money and an iPhone 13 Pro Max.
And on January 20, 2022 at about 5:45 pm, operatives from the CIDG National Capital Region (NCR) apprehended Joy Anne Llorca y Santos, a.k.a. “Jas Fernando,” Oliver Ong y Siy, and Julius Caesar Ilagan y Gregorio in a buy-bust operation at Adriatico Condominium, Ermita, Manila.
Through online transaction, a police poseur-buyer was able to order Clungene antigen test kits from the suspects and agreed to meet at the said condominium. The subjects failed to present any permit or license to operate that led to their arrest and the confiscation of the following:
- Five (5) mother boxes of Clungene Antigen, each containing 50 individual small test kit boxes worth P450,000;
- Dusted money consisting of a genuine P1,000 placed on top of boodle money;
- Two (2) mobile phones used for online selling; and
- Identification cards.
CIDG Director PMGen. Albert Ignatius Ferro said that these operations were in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to operate and identify illegal sellers, distributors, and profiteers of COVID-19 test kits, medicines and other supplies especially those unregistered with the Food and Drug Administration that prejudice the consumers.
All arrested persons will be facing criminal charges for violation of Section 10, RA 9711 (FDA Act of 2009).