Drugstore owners charged for selling unregistered medicines

Inquirer.net
By Tina Santos
December 10, 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The National Bureau of Investigation has filed charges against the Chinese and Filipino owners and operators of several drugstores in Manila for allegedly selling unregistered medicines.

Charged with violation of Republic Act 8203 (The Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs) and Republic Act 3720 (Foods, Drugs and Cosmetic Act) before the Manila Prosecutor's Office were the owners and operators of Vitalife Drugstore, Kimsheng Chinese Drugstore and Central Chinese Drugstore, all located on Ongpin Street, Sta. Cruz.

Arnel Dalumpines, chief of the NBI Special Task Force, said the charges stemmed from the information that the drugstores were selling medicines apparently not registered with the Bureau of the Food and Drugs (BFAD).

Armed with search warrants issued by a Manila judge, bureau agents conducted the raids following test buys and surveillance operations. They seized several boxes of unregistered medicines, including dietary food supplements, Dalumpines said.

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