CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Authorities here confiscated 203 pieces of overpriced thermal scanners estimated to be worth Php 1.9 million during a joint entrapment operation conducted by the regional office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-10) and other government agencies Tuesday (Mar. 24).
Patricio Bernales Jr., NBI-10 Regional Director, said the items were found stored in a residence allegedly owned by a certain Mr. Chong in Barangay Gusa, this city. The thermal guns can be purchased online but customers have to get the items personally, he added.
“We confiscated the items since it is overpriced and the products have no labels,” he said.
Bernales shared the owner claimed he is a licensed government supplier and is affiliated with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.
But the business owner did not present any legal document during the operation, said Antonio Resma Jr., head of the Regulatory and Compliance Board (RCB).
“They failed to present the appropriate and necessary certificate of product registration and license to operate from the supplier as mandated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) advisory 2020-434 and RA 9711, mandatory labeling requirement,” Resma said.
Arrested was a person who sold the items to an agent who posed as a buyer. But Bernales said the owner, Mr. Chong, can also be held liable as they violated the Price Act and RA 9711, among other violations.
The seized items will be presented as evidence in court, but Bernales said they may request to have them distributed in various government agencies.
The operation was conducted by the NBI, Department of Trade and Industry, FDA, RCB, and the local government of Gusa.(davaotoday.com)
