MANILA, Philippines — The government has so far arrested 59 persons for profiteering and hoarding amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in his first weekly report on the additional powers Congress granted him to address the COVID-19 outbreak, said the task force composed of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have jointly launched 39 operations nationwide from March 19 to 28 which led to the arrest of the said individuals.
The DTI earlier ordered a price freeze on all basic commodities for 60 days as the country grapples with the respiratory disease, which has so far infected 1,546 people in the country as of Monday, 78 of whom have died while 42 managed to recover.
The DTI and the Department of Agriculture have likewise conducted joint market inspections to ensure the compliance of vendors with the mandatory price freeze on all basic commodities, Duterte told Congress.
The President in his late Monday night public address warned hoarders and profiteers against taking advantage of the public health emergency.
“I will repeat. This is not the time to make a profit. This is not the time to take advantage of others,” Duterte said in Filipino.