By JEFFREY DAMICOG
Government authorities vowed to run after secret medical facilities catering to foreign patients in the county.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday he will task the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Immigration to help the police in locating all clandestine clinics and the people who operate them.
He said operators of the underground facilities will be slapped with appropriate charges.
Guevarra made the move after the Philippine National Police discovered some of these secret facilities which were believed catering to foreigners afflicted with COVID-19.
“It seems that clandestine medical clinics catering mostly to foreign nationals have sprouted and have been operating without proper authority,” the Justice Secretary noted.
Since these medical facilities are not supervised by the government, Guevarra said that “it is possible that the health of people who seek treatment in these illegal facilities is being compromised.”
Last Tuesday night, the PNP raided the Goldstar Medical Clinic and Pharmacy in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City, which was found to be unregistered.
PNP operatives arrested at the clinic two Chinese nationals identified as David Lai and Bruce Liao, who were operating the establishment.
Prior this, the PNP also raided last May 19 a clandestine facility inside the Fontana Resort and Convention Center at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Police also arrested during the operation two Chinese nationals operating the facility, identified as Hu Ling and Lee Seung Hung.
