CIDG agents nab another ‘fake’ dentist
PHILIPPINE National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) collared another “bogus” dentist during an entrapment operation in Trece Martires City in Cavite on Wednesday, PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said Thursday.
The suspect was placed under arrest after receiving marked money from an undercover CIDG officer who posed as a dental patient in Barangay Cabuco around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the official said.
Members of the CIDG Cavite Field Unit, with the assistance of the local police and the Philippine Dental Association (PDA), arrested the 54-year-old suspect.
According to Lee, the suspect was found to be “practicing” dental technology without any license and certifications identifying him as an eligible technician and is not permitted to conduct any dental care activities under the provisions of the Philippine Dental Act of 2007.
He said that the arresting team recovered various and assorted dental laboratory instruments and tools, including a record book where he kept a record of all his clients and the services they availed.
Accordingly, the suspect learned the basic dentistry practice when he worked as a dental assistant from 1988-1990.
In 2000, he left Samar and transferred to Trece Martires City, where he decided to put up a clinic and started to do dental “malpractice.”
“Ang pagkakahuli [sa suspek] ay naging matagumpay sa pagtutulungan ng CIDG at ng Philippine Dental Association Cavite Chapter para sa malawakan operasyon laban sa mga illegal practitioner sa naturang probinsya upang ang tiwaling gawing ito ay mawakasan,” said the PNP-CIDG director.
The suspect and the evidence were brought to the Cavite CIDG office for proper disposition. The suspect will be facing charges for violation of RA (Republic Act) 9484, said CIDG Region 4-A chief Lt. Col. Joel Manuel A. Ana.
“Paalala po sa ating mga kababayan na huwag po nating ipaubaya ang ating kalusugan at kaligtasan sa kamay ang mga hindi otorisadong manggagamot. Patronizing this kind of malpractice or illegal practice because it is more affordable does not guarantee your safety and does not give the proper hygiene care you deserve,” Lee said.
Last week, PNP-CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU) operatives under Col. Hansel M. Marantan also arrested a fake dentist in Quezon City identified with the alias “Doc Jojo” during a similar sting conducted following a complaint from the PDA.
The suspect was arrested after he took the marked money from a poseur who availed of his services in having false orthodontic teeth for P700 only.
