‘FAKE’ DENTIST. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-South Cotabato operatives question unlicensed dentist Paz Magluyan Lopez, 64 (seated, left), during a raid on her “illegal clinic” in Barangay Zone 2, Koronadal City before noon Tuesday (April 20, 2021). Lopez, who has reportedly practiced illegally for over 10 years, was caught while extracting a tooth of a male patient (seated, right). (Photo courtesy of CIDG-South Cotabato)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police arrested an unlicensed dentist, who has reportedly practiced illegally and operated a clinic for over a decade, in an entrapment in a village in Koronadal City on Tuesday.
Maj. Jess Anthony Maghirang, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-South Cotabato, said Paz Magluyan Lopez, 64, was nabbed around 11:40 a.m. at her house on Antipolo Street, Purok Bayanihan of Barangay Zone 2.
He said Lopez was doing tooth extraction on a male patient when their team stormed her house, which also serves as her clinic.
Recovered at the scene were various dental equipment and materials, assorted medicine and uninstalled dentures.
The police official said they earlier received information regarding the presence of an illegal dental clinic in the area that has reportedly existed for over 10 years.
“There were also a number of complaints regarding her illegal practice,” Maghirang said in a report.
He said they coordinated the matter with the Koronadal City police station and the Philippine Dental Association-South Cotabato chapter, through its vice chairperson Dr. Nathalie Jane Mangcopa.
The operation was launched under the CIDG’s flagship project Oplan “OLEA” or operation plan with other law enforcement agencies.
Maghirang said the suspect is detained at the CIDG-South Cotabato field unit in Koronadal City while awaiting the formal filing of charges through inquest for violation of Republic Act 9484 or the Philippine Dental Act of 2007. (PNA)
