BY GLAZYL MASCULINO
BACOLOD CITY – A former village councilor in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental was charged for allegedly practicing dentistry without authority from the law.
Ronnie Pasunting, 60, a dental technician assistant, was arrested in an entrapment operation by joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Negros Oriental, along with the local police, and personnel of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), following a report from the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) in the province.
Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, CIDG-Negros Oriental head, said the suspect was allegedly caught in the act when a police officer posed as a patient inside his dental laboratory at the said village.
PDA representatives were also present during the apprehension of the suspect.
Authorities recovered from the suspect the P5,500 marked money, improvised receipt, compressor, and other dental paraphernalia.
Huesca said the PDA complained about the suspect’s activity in March this year, but due to the pandemic the operation was just recently conducted after series of surveillance.
Huesca said Pasunting has been reportedly into the dental business for about 18 years now.
Huesca said charges for violation of Republic Act 9484 or the The Philippine Dental Act of 2007, was already filed against the suspect, who is now under the custody of CIDG.
He said the suspect’s family is now processing the P30,000 bail recommended by the court for his provisional liberty. (Glazyl Masculino)
