Two more Chinese nationals operating an underground medical facility outside the Clark Freeport Zone were arrested Thursday afternoon.
The National Bureau of Investigation, Food and Drug Administration along with the Philippine National Police swooped down on a rented house near the Korean Town in Angeles City and discovered the makeshift medical facility.
Medicines with Chinese markings were confiscated at the makeshift medical. The names of the two Chinese nationals were not identified at press time.
Last May 19, joint elements of the Criminal Investigation Division Group, Food and Drug Administration and the Clark Development Corporation raided a villa at the Fontana Leisure Park where it found a makeshift medical facility treating COVID-19 patients.
The first two Chinese nationals arrested at Fontana were identified as -Mr. Ling Hu, 45 years old, alleged owner; and pharmacist Seung-Hyun Lee, 38 years old. The two were however released by the PNP Regional Office in Camp Olivas with no charges levelled against them.
The Chinese nationals did not get approval from the Department of Heath to operate the medical facility at 628 Florida St., Fontana Leisure Park. The Fontana Development Corporation, had earlier denied any involvement in any illegal activities, saying the villas are now being operated by the Shidaikeji Technology Corporation.
Found in the Chinese medical facility were medical wastes such as syringe that were not properly discarded.
The state-run Clark Development Corporation (CDC), however, shut down the Fontana Leisure Park, after the disclosure of the underground medical facility. CDC did not issue the closure order to Shidaikeji.
Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros has called for the immediate deportation and blacklisting of the two Chinese nationals arrested in the makeshift medical facilities.
“We should not allow that we are strict with Filipinos but relaxed with Chinese involved in crimes,” said Hontiveros.
“While we are working hard to protect our people from the virus, these criminals freely roam and pose danger to public health. This blatant disregard of our laws should merit immediate deportation and blacklisting,” according to Hontiveros.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had been sought to probe into the underground hospital in Clark and the release of the two Chinese nationals.
Hontiveros said the arrested individuals may face charges for the violation of the Food and Drug Administration Law, Medical Act of 1959 and the Hospital Licensure Act.
“They have zero regulation and can be a source of community transmission… We will be putting communities at risk and waste our quarantine efforts because of these medical facilities,” Hontiveros added.