(Photo courtesy of CIDG)
MANILA – Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested two persons, including a South Korean national, for selling unregistered imported food products worth PHP1.6 million in Cavite.
In a statement Friday, CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said agents of CIDG-Cavite and personnel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized 545 boxes of luncheon meat, 165 boxes of Jardin Triple Brew coffee, 50 boxes of Jardin Blue Lemonade, and 77 boxes of Delicious BorYung Laver, with all labels written in a foreign language, from an establishment in Barangay Sabutan, Silang town on Wednesday.
Arrested during the operation were the establishment's owner Yong Cheol Baek, 47, and operation manager Jennelyn Arnado, 25.
Based on the information, Caramat said the establishment is selling unregistered imported food products, which are included in Public Health Warning Advisory 2023-0018 issued by the FDA and was received by the CIDG.
Upon validation, the police arranged an entrapment operation and secured a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City, Quezon on June 15.
Caramat said the CIDG would remain diligent in warning consumers of unregistered products that may pose a health threat and continue to guard against economic saboteurs who seek to destroy the economic structure of the country.
“Atin lamang tangkilikin ang mga bagay o pagkain na awtorisado o may kaukulang Sertipiko ng Pagpaparehistro (We should buy items or food that are authorized or have the corresponding Registration Certificate)," he said.
A criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9711 or the FDA Act of 2009 is being readied for filing against the arrested persons.
Meanwhile, the CIDG also seized PHP1.9 million worth of fake cigarettes and arrested a Chinese national in a police operation in Cebu City.
Nabbed during the operation conducted by CIDG-Mandaue City and representatives of the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Briones Street in Sitio Carbon, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City was 40-year-old Chinese national Allen Lim.
The suspect was brought to the CIDG-Mandaue City for documentation.
LIm will face charges for violations of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Sections 171, 172, 263, and 265), RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code), and RA 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law). (PNA)
