Benguet residents have been warned against the proliferation of counterfeit medicines in the province.
Gov. Melchor Diclas, in a public advisory, has urged residents to stay vigilant and to purchase medicines only from Food and Drugs Authority-licensed establishments.
This is following the recent arrest of a medicine distributor in Mankayan who has been selling counterfeit drugs in several municipalities of the province.
The Benguet Provincial Police Office reported the suspect, whose identity has been withheld by authorities, comes from Samar province but currently resides in Mankayan.
The fake medicines were reportedly distributed in Bokod, Kabayan, Buguias, and Mankayan.
Diclas said the fake medicines recovered from the suspect’s rented house Bioflu, amoxicillin Ambimox, chloramphenicole, Alaxan FR, paracetamol, mefanamic acid, co-trimoxazole Kathrex, cefixime trihydrate, Dolfenal, Ponstan, diclofenac Voren, metronidazole, Biogesic, carbocisteine Solmux, and Neozep Forte.
Diclas said residents must buy medicines only at legitimate pharmacies and distributors and not to entertain ambulant medicine traders. He said buyers should check the license of the medicine distributor if they have license issued by the FDA.
The suspect was arrested on Feb. 23 at Sitio Manpey-as, Bulalacao, Mankayan after a series of surveillance and validation.
Through the search warrant issued by Judge Jonathan Segundo of Mankayan Municipal Trial Court, the rented house of the suspect was searched resulting in the confiscation of boxes of various fake medicines.
The suspect is now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 8203, or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 30, 2024
