PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday assured the public that their crackdown on criminals and other unscrupulous persons exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic in the country will be unrelenting.

Since March last year, the top cop said nearly 100 persons have been charged in different courts nationwide for their involvement in various cyber-crimes taking advantage of the pandemic. He added that the cases involved spreading fake news on the internet, illegal online sale of medical supplies including RT-PCR test kits and online scams.

Gen. Eleazar has ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) headed by Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group under Brigadier Gen. Robert T. Rodriguez to spearhead the crackdown against these ‘pandemic criminals.’

Last week, seven persons were hauled to jail by PNP-CIDG agents for operating an unauthorized RT-PCR testing laboratory or illegally selling online RT-PCR testing kits in Metro Manila.

Maj. Gen. Ferro said that three of the suspects from the Swab Express Medical Services were arrested in an entrapment operation in Sampaloc, Manila last Thursday.

The Department of Health (DOH) certified that the Sampaloc-based laboratory has not been given a License to Operate as a COVID-19 testing facility nor has a pending application.

The suspects were arrested after an undercover CIDG officer was subjected to an RT-PCR test by the suspect.

Ferro said that recovered during the operation were six boxes of Sansure Biotech SARS-COV-2 Rapid Antigen Test (Colloidal Gold Method, five boxes of Joinstar COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test kit (Latex), two buffers containing the swab sample of the undercover officer, two Consent Forms of the client and Screening Participant Information, an Official Receipt for P7,999 issued by the laboratory, the boodle money topped by a marked bill and two laptop computers.

Maj. Gen. Ferro said they are investigating the suspects for their involvement in a ‘swab test scam’ in the country where they misrepresent themselves as a laboratory authorized by the government to conduct RT-PCR tests.

However, tests conducted by the said scammers remain invalid since they are operating without any authority from the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Ferro said the suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 4688 or An Act Regulating the Operation and Maintenance of Clinical Laboratories and Requiring the Registration of the Same with the Department of Health, Providing Penalty for the Violation Thereof, and for Other Purposes in relation to DOH Administrative Order Number 2007-0027.

PNP-CIDG operatives also arrested a company owner and three of his employees accused of involvement in the illegal online sale of COVID-19 test kits in Metro Manila following an entrapment operation Tuesday last week on 4 Sta. Clara Street in Barangy Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Recovered from the suspects were around P4.5 million worth of the unauthorized saliva test kits. The FDA certified that the suspects are not authorized by law to engage in the online sale of the rapid test kits.

Ferro added that prior to the arrest, an undercover officer made an online transaction with the suspects and ordered 130 boxes of Kunsong Colloidal Gold COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits.

Recovered from the suspects were P494,000 in boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill, 80 boxes of Kunsong Antigen Rapid Test Kits each containing 20 kits, 15 boxes of the same test kits each containing 10 saliva test kits, a delivery receipt for P494,000 under the name of Celltech Applied Sciences, Inc., a laptop computer, an inventory book and the company identification cards of the accused.

“As long as there are people who continuously pursue profiteering through their illegal means, we at the CIDG will also continue to go after them to make to make sure that they will not gain anything but face the consequences of their illegal deeds behind bars,” the PNP-CIDG director said.

Amid the new normal, Gen. Eleazar said that from March 9, 2021 to last August 9, the PNP-CIDG and the PNP-ACG have filed 87 criminal complaints against 52 persons for spreading fake news; three online scam complaints against two persons; and 31 criminal complaints against 26 persons for online profiteering, overpricing, hoarding and unauthorized selling of medical supplies.

The PNP-CIDG and the PNP-ACG have also filed three criminal complaints against two suspected nline scammers; and 31 criminal complaints against 26 alleged online profiteers, hoarders, and unauthorized sellers of medical supplies.

Seized from the unauthorized online sellers were millions of pesos worth of of disinfectants, vitamin C capsules, forehead thermometers, face masks and isopropyl alcohol.

“Binabalaan ko ang mga manloloko at mapagsamantala sa kapwa na tigil-tigilan na ang ganitong gawain. You will face the full force of the law for your criminal activities,” Gen. Eleazar said.