Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested a woman for selling overpriced medical supplies worth P1.2 million in Sta Cruz, Manila, Wednesday.
QCPD Director, P / Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo identified the suspect as Merlita Toong, 47, of Buenavidez Street, resident of Sta. Cruz, Manila.
According to Montejo, they received information from their confidential informant that the suspect is selling overpriced alcohol, facemasks, and safety goggles.
The Quezon City Criminal Investigation and Detection Group District Field Unit (QC-CIDG-DFU) immediately coordinated with DTI. They arrested the suspect inside Beauty Parlor, on Buenavidez Street, Sta Cruz, Manila.
Police seized 40 alcohol, 15,000 pieces of disposable facemasks, and 250 safety goggles worth P1.2 million.
The suspect was immediately transported to the QC-CIDG Field Unit at Camp Karingal and will face charges of violation of RA 7581 (An Act Providing Protection To Consumers or The Price Act) and Presidential Proclamation 922.
Luzon has over 90,000 quarantine violators
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) announced on Wednesday the number of Luzon quarantine violators already surpassed the 90,000 marks.
JTF CV Shield data showed that from March 17 to April 7, 93,242 individuals were either warned, arrested, or fined for violating lockdown protocols.
A total of 22,787 were arrested, 66,063 were warned while 4,392 have been fined.
The JTF CV Shield, the enforcement unit of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, also arrested 657 people for selling overpriced medical supplies amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Physical punishment amid ECQ
There have been reports of police violating the rights of quarantine violators such as the police officer caught on camera hitting and threatening to shoot a resident who wanted to go out a barangay.
PNP chief Gamboa added that the agency would not tolerate anyone from their agency who would abuse the implementation of the law amid the enhanced community quarantine.
“It has been the policy of the PNP that we always exercise maximum tolerance and within the bounds of the law,” he said. He also said the police remained on his position.
Physical punishment must not be imposed on arrested curfew violators, according to the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield, tasked to implement government’s guidelines on the Luzon lockdown.