NBI: Products can be dangerous: Downtown raid nets ‘fake’ pills

CEBU, Philippines - Almost 200 boxes of slimming pills and powders not registered with the Food and Drug Administration were seized by the National Bureau of Investigation from two establishments during two simultaneous raids in the downtown area yesterday.

Lead by agent Donaver Inesin, personnel of the bureau confiscated 100 boxes of Hokkaido Slimming Pills, 20 boxes of Pearl White Slimming Capsule, three boxes of Perfect Figure Slimming Capsule, 51 boxes of Leisure 18 Slimming Coffee and five boxes of Slimming Beauty Capsule from Yu Lian Merchandising located at Pelaez St., near corner V. Gullas St., Cebu City, allegedly owned by proprietor Rinir Luchavez.

The search warrant was served at around 11 a.m. Representatives from the Department of Health-7 were also present during the operation; the department has the power to confiscate banned products.

Just nearby in Sanciangko Street, NBI agent Teodoro Gaoiran served the warrant on Beauty Shape Cosmetic. He said they were able to confiscate 11 boxes of Hokkaido Slimming Pills and some unregistered products.

The owner/proprietor of Beauty Shape Cosmetic, as indicated in the search warrant, was a certain Maricar Panerio.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises on Wednesday issued the search warrant after he found probable cause to believe the two establishments violated Republic Act 3720 as amended by Executive Order No. 175 otherwise known as the Foods, Drugs, and Devices and Cosmetics Act.

NBI-7 Regional Director Max Salvador said their operation stemmed from the request of the Department of Health and FDA. He said his men conducted surveillance on the two establishments for a month before they applied for the search warrant.

“As part of the surveillance, we bought banned products and submitted it before the DOH,” he said.

Salvador added that the confiscated products were not certified by FDA and DOH because these have side effects detrimental to human health.

Salvador appealed to the public not to buy the banned products.

Inesin said that taking the mentioned products can cause cerebral hemorrhage, hypertension, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal heart attack, extreme fever, rapid muscle breakdown, tremor, psychosis and even death.

The NBI invited two alleged foreign nationals, whom they believed were the actual owners of the stores, for questioning. Salvador said the two will be released from their custody after questioning. However, if they are determined to be foreigners they will be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration.

In an interview, an employee of  Yu Lian denied any knowledge they were selling banned slimming products.

Meanwhile, the DOH Regional Health Office in Cebu City issued a certification that Hokkaido Slimming Pills, Pearl White Slimming Capsule, Ballet Dancer Fat Reducing, Bio-lissoen Fat Reducing, Cell Life Slimming Coffee, Qi Xian Nu, Elegant Shape Fat Reducing, Seven Days Miracle, Goodliness Fat Reducing, Happyslim, Leisure 18 Slimming Coffee, Lightness Fat Reducing, Maggie Fitness Essence, Mei Shen Ling Anti-obesity, Perfect Figure Slimming, Pill for Weight Reduction, Pretty Model, Perfect Slim and Quiaomei Fat Binder were banned and unregistered products under FDA Advisory No. 2014-002.

Charges for a violation of RA 3720 will be filed against the owners of the two establishments.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)