NCRPO says they can give confiscated face masks from hoarders if court allows

March 27, 2020

The chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday said they are willing to give the face masks they confiscated from hoarders and overpriced sellers if the court will allow.

In a press briefing, NCRPO chief Police Major General Debold Sinas said  they cannot just simply donate those face masks to frontliners, especially to health workers.

“We cannot do that because those are evidence in our inventory. Once we file the case the court will look for it. If we cannot present (the evidence), then we will be the one to face a case,” Sinas said.

“Actually I already talked to the investigators if they can appeal after filing the case…  we will just wait for the court order,” he added.

Based on their legal department, Sinas said he was told to let the prosecutor and judge to decide on the confiscated items.

“Hopefully, whatever the judge will say we will implement it. If they will say to give it to the police, we will just give it to health workers because some people may say its self service… If the court agrees (to use it) then we will just give it to Department of Health (DOH),” he said.

“In NCRPO now, we have enough for our personnel, so that health workers can use it because they are much in need,” he said.

Sinas said they give enough protective equipment to their personnel and give them multivitamins to strengthen their immune system.

“We give multivitamins on our people and the most important, we have special care facility in (Camp Bagong Diwa) Bicutan. (We have)  ...two (facilities) which house our persons under monitoring (PUM),” Sinas said.

He added their health officers go to border and control points to check the status of the police personnel.

Last March 25, NCRPO’s latest operation on those who are selling overpriced medical supplies resulted in the arrest of two persons and confiscation of 16 boxes of face masks, six boxes of latex gloves, three boxes of surgical suits and nine boxes of infrared thermometers amounting to P1 million.

Sinas warned those who will keep on hoarding supplies to sell it  overpriced will face charges such as Republic Act of 7394 or the overpricing under the Consumer Act of the Philippines and Republic Act 7581 or an act of profiteering under the Price Act. Ella Dionisio/DMS