Illegal Chinese COVID-19 clinic raided in Makati

AUTHORITIES raided a medical clinic being used as treatment facility for Chinese nationals with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and arrested two Chinese doctors Tuesday afternoon in Makati city.

Makati police chief P/Col. Oscar Jacildo identified the two Chinese doctors as Dr. David Lai, 49, and Liao Bruce , also known as Liao Sognhua, 41, both residing at Unit 4D One Central Tower, Makati City. The two were caught while allegedly providing medical treatment to four Chinese COVID-19 patients, three men and a woman.

The arrested suspects have no license from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and were not registered with the Department of Health (DOJ).

Policemen led by P/Maj. Gideon Ines recovered inside the raided Goldstar Medical Clinic and Pharmacy Corp. located at Unit 501-506, 5th floor New Lesema Spa Building, 8846 Sampaloc St., Brgy San Antonio several rapid test kits for COVID-19, swab sticks, vials, syringes and multiple boxes of Chinese medicines containing tablets and capsules with Chinese labels.

Col. Jacildo said new hospital beds were also found inside the “underground hospital” while one of the patients was still injected with dextrose when the raid was conducted at around 3:30 p.m..

Prior to the operation, police received a complaint regarding hospital waste being thrown at the drainage prompting the building maintenance to call the attention of the owner of the medical clinic to properly disposed their medical waste.

When policemen conducted a discreet investigation in coordination with Felipe Albayda, Jr. of the Makati Health Department Incident Management Team Task Force COVID-19, they were able to confirm that the medical clinic had been serving as a treatment facility for Chinese patients allegedly positive for COVID-19 for almost three months

Col. Jacildo said they are still conducting a follow-up operation for the arrest of the maintainer of the medical clinic, whose name was temporarily withheld, while the owner or owners of the building will be invited to explain why and how the illegal activity happened without their knowledge.

The confiscated boxes of Chinese medicines believed not registered under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were turned over to the said agency while the rescued Chinese patients were brought by Makati City Health Office to undisclosed hospitals.