Parañaque local government on Thursday suspended the unauthorized COVID-19 testing of 200 Chinese in the city.
Mass testing for Chinese nationals was conducted in the garden area of BF Homes Parañaque, Thursday morning.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said he immediately stopped the testing and obtained the names of those involved.
He stressed that the city government had nothing to do with the testing, and no one coordinated with the city hall or the city health office.
Barangay BF Homes is also under investigation.
Barangay Chairman Robert Ty said the testing was a private initiative, but its organizers did not coordinate and sought their approval.
He said the village received a tip that mass testing was taking place, so the guards went there to stop it.
The facility is not accredited to conduct COVID-19 testing for Chinese nationals or Filipinos.
“It’s rude in the first place, bastos kasi we were not aware of it. It happened right before our noses without even disclosing to us that it’s gonna happen there right in our backyard,” said Ty.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing to determine who is responsible for the violation.
Also read: Chinese nationals arrested in Clark’ COVID-19 hospital’ walk free from jail
Illegal Chinese pharmacy, clinic raided in Pampanga
Authorities raided an illegal pharmacy and clinic operated by a father and son Chinese nationals in Angeles, Pampanga, Unang Balita reported on Friday.
National Bureau of Investigation agents discovered six hospital beds, dextroses, unregistered Chinese medicines, and rapid and swab test kits for COVID-19 in the facility.
The medicines are allegedly similar to the unregistered COVID-19 drugs confiscated last week at an underground health facility in Fontana in Clark, Pampanga.
Authorities arrested father and son Chinese nationals. Police said the father even tried to escape through the roof.
According to the foreign nationals’ interpreter, one of the suspects was a doctor but have not practiced in the Philippines for a long time now.
The suspects only sell the alleged medicines for headache and diarrhea to their fellow Chinese nationals, the interpreter added.
The NBI is still investigating if the suspects are staying legally in the Philippines.