2 Chinese nationals nabbed for selling ‘fake’ medicines

CEBU, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 has filed charges against the two Chinese nationals who were arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit drugs through two unlicensed convenience stores in Barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City.

The accused were identified as Shi Wenpai, owner of the store called Hua Long market, and Wu Xiao, who stood as the store manager in another store, LaoXiang Supermarket.

Both stores were selling varieties of alleged fake medicines whose labels were written mostly in Chinese characters.

The owner of the LaoXiang Supermarket, Alexine Dy, is at large as of this writing.

NBI-7 director Attorney Rennan Oliva said they served the search warrant last March 18, 2022 in the convenience store of the accused individuals in Mandaue City.

The operation was hatched from a report received by their office that medicines were being sold without a permit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The search warrant was issued by Hon. Alan Graciano, RTC Executive Judge of Mandaue City, and it was for violation of RA 8203, the special law on counterfeit drugs.

The search warrants were served in two establishments in the same area at the same time.

“They were selling unregistered prescription medicines to the public, contrary to the advisory of the FDA, na you cannot dispense to the general public, without the proper registration from the FDA, that is, for the purpose of the protecting the public,” said Oliva

Oliva added that this was also in line with the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to hold the establishments selling fake medicines or medicines without proper documents accountable.

During the operation, the accused failed to present any document that legitimizes their operations, particularly the registration documents.

Aside from this, it was also found out that both establishments did not have business permits as convenience stores in the first place.

During the service of search warrants, the barangay were surprised that these establishments were operating there since registration also didn't go through to them.

Seized from them were Amoxicillin capsules in 0.25 grams, OCT Lianhua Qingwen Jiaonang; CSPC Arbidol Hydrochloride Tablets 0.1g; rapid test kits, and other medicines, all written in Chinese characters.

Oliva said that the seized items had an estimated cost of at least half a million pesos. These were also prescription medicines, it was found. —  JMD (FREEMAN)