Chinese medicines seized, 4 arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Waterfront police have arrested four persons past 5:00 p.m. Friday for selling Chinese medicines without license.

The arrested persons were Wilma Tague Hepiga, 32; Rosevelt Sudiza Cantiga, 27; Nicanor Permites, 34; and Alphy Arcilla Largo, 25, all of Pagadian City.

Alert team led by PO3 Christopher Sanchez arrested the four suspects after they failed to show proofs that they are authorized to sell the medicines.

They also failed to show that they are licensed by the Board of Pharmacy hence police officers confiscated the medicines and arrested them.

Police confiscated a box of fish liver oil soft gel capsules and boxes assorted Chinese medicines.

Waterfront Police chief, Chief Insp. Wildemar Tiu, said that the suspects were selling medicines illegally in the streets and they employed several tricks to entice people to buy.

"Naa siya sales representatives manghatag og free vitamins, pagduol nimo mo-negotiate nga naa silay tambal, makapalit ka tagaan ka’g swertres para mokagat," he said.

He said the suspects arrived in Cebu before the Sinulog and they have been selling the Chinese medicines since then.

Tiu said he wants the licensed pharmacists to be protected after their four year of painstaking studies.

"Gusto nako ma-protected ang license sa mga pharmacists nga gi-eskwelahan nila og 4 years," he added.

The suspects are now detained at Waterfront Police station while waiting for the charges to be filed against them.

All four suspects will face a charge for violation of Sec. 24 and 25 of RA 5921 or the Pharmaceutical Law.

Meanwhile, San Nicolas Police arrested a certain Gerald Baguio at a checkpoint near Forbes Bridge, Tupas Street, Barangay Pasil, Cebu City at past 11:00 a.m. yesterday.

In a telephone interview SPO4 Reynaldo Origenes told The FREEMAN that the checkpoint was personally headed by Sr. Insp. Chuck Barandog and they were able to confiscate 400 sticks of marijuana from the suspect.

Bagiuo will face a charge for violation of Sec. 11 Art. 2 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (FREEMAN)