DOJ orders BI to track down Chinese treated at an unauthorized medical facility in Pampanga

May 20, 2020

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to assist in tracking down Chinese nationals who sought treatment at an unauthorized medical facility in Pampanga.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there is strong possibility Chinese nationals, who were patients of the makeshift hospital, are still “dangerously roaming around.”

“I have instructed the BI to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP)/local government unit (LGU) in tracking down these Chinese and other nationals who sought treatment from this unauthorized medical facility in Pampanga and who could still be dangerously roaming around,” Guevarra said in a text message.

“If found, they will be brought to legitimate hospitals or quarantine facilities for proper treatment, without prejudice to charging those responsible for this illegal operation,” he added.

The PNP raided a former leisure village in Pampanga that was transformed into a seven-bed clandestine medical facility and arrested its administrator and pharmacist.

The establishment did not have the necessary permit from the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Medicines with Chinese labels, allegedly used to treat COVID-19 patients, were confiscated since these were not registered with the Food and Drug Administration. DMS