NBI nabs 5 in ‘eye’ scam

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested five people for running an "eye check-up" scam that involves selling expensive eyedrops and tablets to patients after they had supposedly extracted live microorganisms from their eyes.

Regional Director Ruel Lasala, of the NBI-NCR, said they apprehended in an operation suspects Albert Flores, Delmar Burias, Reyna Yamba, Princess Calderon and Allen Puno. Two others remain at large.

The suspects face charges of syndicated estafa, illegal practice of medicine, and sale of illegal drugs under the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

"It appears that they have been engaged in such modus operandi for quite some time and that they have been victimizing people from different parts of Metro Manila, but this is the first time that we encountered such scheme," he said.

NBI-NCR Special Investigator III Aldrin Mercader said they set up an entrapment at the suspects’ stall near the LRT Carriedo station last Thursday after Karen Perez, 36, a waitress, of Tondo, sought assistance.

"The suspects would take a cotton bud and clean the patient’s eye. They would then place it on a ceramic dish with water, and pour an unknown chemical. The victim would then see microorganisms, or something that looked like mosquito larva," Mercader explained.

The suspects would recommend to the victim several products, including an eyedrop labeled "Herbal Eyedrop Wild Sampaguita," which cleanses and removes bacteria, and 20 yellow tablets for P300.

The victim is advised to take four tablets a day and is asked to return to buy other medicine, worth P3,000, to fully eliminate the bacteria. – Evelyn Macairan