PHILIPPINE National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents arrested a “fake” dentist during an entrapment operation in Calamba City in Laguna, prompting CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee to remind the public to be wary of the presence of “phony” dental experts who are known for offering “cheap” services.

According to the official, the suspect was captured by members of the CIDG Laguna Provincial Field Unit (PFU) headed by Lt. Col. Nestor M. Cusi during a sting in Barangay Looc in Calamba City around 4:30 p.m. last Tuesday.

Members of the PNP Special Action Force’s (SAF) 82nd Special Action Company (SAC) and the Calamba City Police Station assisted in the conduct of the operation.

“The suspect tried to escape arrest by running towards the river but eventually stopped while about to be cornered since he doesn’t know how to swim to elude officers,” said Lee.

The entrapment operation was launched amid a report sent to the CIDG Laguna PFU regarding the presence of a fake dentist in the city who has put up a clinic.

During the operation, the suspect yielded a marked P1,000 bill paid to him by a poseur in exchange for having his dentures fixed. “The suspect was arrested shortly after he took the measurements for the dentures and received the partial payment from the undercover officer,” said Lee.

Recovered inside the suspect’s “clinic” located along the Calamba River were several dental equipments, tools, and accessories used by the suspect.

They include one tooth impression, an explore, longnose pliers, three lip and cheek retractors, one brace/bracket, two bottles of glass lonomer cement, one bottle of Herodent self-curing acrylic liquid, a Colorgard bottle, a New Ace Posterior, an improvised rubber mixing plate, a dropper, one plaster alignate spatula, a Dura self-cure acrylic, three packs of Photochromic Pigment Powder, five pieces of buccal tubes, two pieces of Ligaties, an acrylic denture and a brace/bracket.

The suspect failed to present any certificate of registration and professional identification card as well as a special permit to practice dental technology under the provisions of the Republic Act (RA) 9484, said Lee.

A record check showed that on June 12, 2015, the accused was arrested by Calamba policemen for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and alarm and scandal.

Last September 22, he was again arrested for the sale and possession of prohibited drugs in violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. However, the PNP-CIDG learned that the suspect was recently released from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Calamba City.

The suspect is now facing criminal charges for violation of RA 9484 or the Philippine Dental Act of 2007, said Lee.

The official said that the suspect became the 3rd fake dentist to be hauled to jail by his men so far this year.

“We are again reminding the public not to risk their safety for this kind of medical malpractice. Kindly report to us the presence of fake dentists and other medical practitioners in your community,” the official said.