4 nabbed for illegal sale of Covid-19 test kits in Pasig

MANILA – Police arrested four men involved in the illegal sale of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) rapid test kits in Pasig City.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, in a statement on Wednesday, identified the suspects as Paul Henry Ferraz, 55, president/owner of Celltech Applied Sciences Inc., and his three employees, Agrifino Lozanta, Paul Ryan Matillano, and Patrick Henry Caro, who were arrested in an entrapment in Barangay Kapitolyo on Tuesday.

The operation stemmed from reports received by the CIDG that a group of individuals is engaged in the online sale and distribution of unauthorized rapid test kits.

This prompted them to immediately coordinate and verify the authority of the suspects to sell Covid-19 rapid test kits with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Upon the verification that the suspects have no authority to sell, authorities launched the operation where a police poseur-buyer ordered online 130 small boxes of antigen rapid test kits and saliva test kits amounting to PHP494,000.

Ferraz is the sub-leader of the “Christian Criminal Group (Pasig City Chapter)” involved in illegal online selling of Covid-19 test kits.

Recovered during the operation were 20 mother boxes each containing 60 small boxes of Kunsong Covid-19 antigen rapid test kits and saliva test kits worth PHP4.5 million, a delivery receipt under the name of Celltech Applied Sciences Inc. dated Aug. 17, 2021, issued under the name of “Francis Malabute” amounting to PHP494,000; marked money incorporated with boodle money; laptop; inventory book; and company identification cards of the suspects.

The suspects will be charged with the violation of Republic Act 9711 (FDA Law) in relation to FDA Circular No. 2020-016, which prohibits the online selling of Covid-19 test kits.