AGENTS of the National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU) of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Thursday arrested 13 persons and seized P1.2 million worth of overpriced Tocilizumab capsules in Manila being used to treat critical and severe COVID-19 cases in the country, PNP-CIDG director, Major General Albert Ignatius D. Ferro said yesterday.

The arrests and seizures were made in separate operations conducted along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila and along Lacson Street corner Dapitan St. in España by the CIDG-NCRFU headed by Colonel Randy Glenn F. Silvio.

The operations stemmed from several information received by the CIDG-NCRFU regarding the presence of alleged overpriced Tocilizumab being sold in Manila. Accordingly, Tocilizumab 400mg, an anti-inflammatory drug prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, is being sold for P85,000 while the 80mg is being sold at P25,000.

The suggested price set by the Department of Health (DOH) was at P28,830.84 (400mg) and at P8,811.11 (80mg) only.

Following the information, the CIDG-NCRFU operatives validated the report and conducted the entrapment operation which resulted in the arrest of Roy de la Torre, 29; Luninging Abagair, 47; Anamarie Bastes, 42; Stephanie Ian Zabala, 35; Mary Angela David, 35; Jocelyn Petalio, 52; Joyce Regine Tadeo, 31; Rudson Arellano, 34; Edwin Ilan, 34; Anaclete Liwag, 48; Loreign Ruiz, 42; Stephanie Marie Empaynado, 28; and Reynante Galang, 34.

Recovered during the sting were three pieces of Temziva Tocilizumab (400mg) and 35 pieces of RoActemra Tocilizumab (80mg) with an estimated market value of P1,130,000.

The DOH last April 5 said the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Living Recommendations suggested the use of Tocilizumab as well as Remdesivir as treatment for patients with critical and severe COVID-19 cases.

Remedesivir is used under Compassionate Special Permit while Tocilizumab is a registered anti-inflammatory drug.

The suspects are now facing cases for violation of Republic Act 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 (Unauthorized selling), and RA 7581, or profiteering for selling overpriced medicine.

“In these trying times, when the country is scrambling to find ways and pass through this pandemic, these individuals took advantage of the situation to earn huge profit and in these situations, the CIDG is there to prevent them from inflicting further burden to our society,” said Ferro.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon