CHINESE NATIONAL, PINAY PAL ARRESTED; UNREGISTERED LAUNDRY DETERGENTS SEIZED IN BULACAN

BY KEVIN GALANG

OPERATIVES of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a Chinese national and a Filipina following the confiscation of an estimated P300,000 worth of allegedly unregistered Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated laundy detergents in a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Liciada, Bustos, Bulacan,

CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 chief Col. Grant Gollod said arrested were alias “Qi,”  a 25-year-old Chinese national residing in Bgy. Liciada, Bustos; and alias “Dayu,” 33, of Bustos Heights, Catacte, Bustos, Bulacan.

The operation, conducted under Oplan MegaShopper, was led by the CIDG RFU 3 Regional Special Operations Team, in coordination with the CIDG Bulacan Provincial Field Unit, and the Bustos Municipal Police Station.

Gollod said the operation stemmed from verified intelligence reports regarding the alleged illegal sale and distribution of FDA-regulated products without the required Certificate of Product Registration (CPR).

Confiscated during the operation were five boxes of 2,000-milliliter Harmony laundry detergent containing six containers per box, 150 additional boxes of the same product, P1,000 marked money, and eight boodle bills used in the operation.

Authorities estimated the total value of the confiscated products at around P300,000.

The arrested suspects were brought to the CIDG RFU 3 office for documentation, booking, and proper disposition.

Charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, which regulates the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and marketing of health products in the Philippines, were filed against the arrested suspects.

CIDG reminded the public to purchase only FDA-registered products from legitimate retailers, saying the sale and distribution of unregistered products may pose risks to consumer health and violate national regulations.