BACOLOD CITY – About 1,000 substandard face masks were seized, following the arrest of four persons in an entrapment operation at Boloc Boloc, Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Thursday for allegedly selling overpriced items.
Police identified the suspects as Roseshel Bartolata, 24, and Neil Bryan Bartolata, 24, both of Amlan town; and Junrey Sido, 23; and Mark Clifford John Sido, 20, both residents of Tanjay City.
A report from Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) said that the suspects were caught allegedly selling ordinary face masks for P130 each to a police agent.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the province led the operation in coordination with Sibulan Municipal Police Station, Highway Patrol Group, and 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Police recovered in the operation 1,000 face masks without specifications, P500 used as entrapment money, brown envelope, and three cellular phones, and P125,000 fake money.
The suspects are now in the custody of CIDG-Negros Oriental and will be charged for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 7581 or The Price Act.
Local authorities are strictly monitoring hoarding and overpricing of basic necessities at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (Glazyl Masculino)
