Police uncovered an alleged illegal treatment facility for foreign COVID-19 patients in a raid at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga last Monday.
Police Col. Amante Daro, director of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit in Central Luzon, said the operation resulted in the arrest of two Chinese and the confiscation of some medicines and other medical equipment.
He identified them as Hu Ling and Lee Sheong-Hyun. The two served as the medial facility supervisor and pharmacist of the alleged illegal health facility at the Florida 2, Villa 628, Fontana Resort and Convention Center in Mabalacat City.
Daro said the operation stemmed from a tip-off regarding some persons being treated in the area.
Armed with a search warrant, CIDG operatives raided the area and discovered that it was indeed used to treat some Chinese patients. The area also served as a pharmacy.
Daro said the area was being used as a treatment facility for patients suffering from various ailments.
Suspicion that the area was being used as treatment facility for COVID-19 was raised when the raiding team discovered used kits being used to test for coronavirus at the trash bins.
“We are now tracing all the people who were treated in the facility,” said Daro.
A Chinese patient was in the area during the raid, according to Daro. He was already turned over to the Department of Health.
“We are now conducting in-depth investigation regarding the operation of the facility. The initial information we obtained from the DoH and Food and Drugs Administration was that the facility was not allowed to operate,” said Daro.
Appropriate criminal charges are now being readied against the arrested suspects. (Aaron Recuenco)
