The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Jinky Jorgio
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced today the arrest of two (2) individuals in Parañaque City for selling COVID-19 test kits which is prohibited under the law.
NBI Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Eric B. Distor identified the subjects as SHANON APRIL MEJIA ALEGRE and ESSELINE RAISA SY ONG, who were arrested by operatives of the NBI-Anti Organized and Transnational Crimes Division (NBI-AOTCD) in an entrapment operation on May 14, 2020.
Distor said that the case stemmed from information received by the NBI-AOTCD that there are individuals engaged in the online selling of COVID-19 test kits despite the issuance of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Advisory Nos. 2020-497 and 498 in April 2020 reiterating to all license importer/distributors that COVID-19 test kits are strictly for medical professional use and not intended for personal use and that said product should be acquired by the general public through a prescription from a licensed physician, hospitals or drugstores and pharmacies. The FDA Circular No. 2020-016 also stated that online selling of FDA certified COVID-19 antibody test kits is strictly prohibited.
On May 13, 2020, NBI-AOTCD was able to identify an online seller of test kits. AOTCD operatives immediately established communication to the online seller of test kits for cash on delivery (COD) within Metro Manila. At the same time, the NBI coordinated with the FDA. An undercover poseur-customer ordered 200 boxes at P12,000.00 per box of test kits worth Php 2,400,000.00 through the contact number of the seller. The seller then instructed the poseur-customer to pick up the test kits in a house in BF Homes Parañaque City.
The following day, May 14, 2020, NBI-AOTCD operatives together with the FDA representatives conducted an entrapment operation. They were greeted by Subject Alegre who invited the poseur-customer inside the garage and presented 200 boxes of test kits which bear the markings “Wondfo SARS-COV-2 Antibody Test (Lateral Flow Method).” They were then invited inside the house for the payment and as soon as Subject Ong received the entrapment money, AOTCD operatives swoop down inside the house, declared their authority and placed Subjects Alegre and Ong under arrest. Subjects Ong and Alegre failed to show any License-to-Operate when asked by the FDA representatives. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 200 boxes worth Php 2.4 Million.
Distor stressed that a Certification issued by the FDA states that online sellers do not have a License-to-Operate or Special Certification in the selling or distribution of the said test kits. Criminal charges are now being readied against the subjects and will be filed before the Prosecutor’s Office.