Authorities arrested an Indian national and a funeral parlor manager for selling overpriced medical supplies during the separate police operations launched by NCRPO and NBI.
Police on Wednesday arrested an Indian national for allegedly selling overpriced thermal scanners in Manila.
The operation was launched after authorities received reports that the 31-year-old suspect sold thermal scanners for P5,000 per piece, while its suggested retail price is only P3,400, according to a report from the National Capital Region Police Office ( NCRPO).
At around 12:50 pm, the suspect was arrested at a medical supplies store in Santa Cruz district after he sold an overpriced scanner to one of the authorities.
NCRPO confiscated four boxes containing 118 pieces of thermal scanners, with a total value of P590,000 from the suspect.
The suspect faces several charges, including breaching the Price Act and Consumer Act.
A funeral home manager was arrested after he was caught in the act of selling overpriced face masks and hand sanitizers during the entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Tagum City.
Authorities recovered 2,150 pieces of disposable face masks and 100 gallons of hand sanitizers from the suspect.
“Ibenebenta ng suspek ang disposable face mask ng P110 bawat isa at P1,250 ang bawat gallon ng hand sanitizers. Na monitor siya ng ating intel, kaya ginawa natin ang entrapment operation,” said NBI Assistant Regional Director Exzel Hernandez.
(The suspect is selling the disposable mask for P110 each and the hand sanitizers for P1,250 each. Our intel monitored him, so we launched an entrapment operation.)
The suspect is facing charges in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.
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COVID-19 violence: man beaten while giving free masks in Iligan City
A man who only wanted to help amid the COVID-19 crisis experienced violence after a group of drunk men beat him while he was giving free masks in Iligan City.
The victim was identified as Jun Bado, who sustained injuries in the head and eyes. He also had bruises, and his hand was broken after the drunk men mobbed him in Barangay Hinaplanon.
Bado said he just wanted to help, so he made and gave the free face masks in the said barangay. He said he would not file a case against the suspects.
The police meanwhile advised those who will distribute help to coordinate with the barangay officials for safety and security assistance.