Illegal Chinese clinic in Parañaque raided

MANILA, Philippines z— A second underground clinic catering exclusively to Chinese nationals suspected to have contracted the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been found at Multinational Village in Parañaque City.

The illegal clinic was raided around 1 p.m. on Saturday, more than a week after Mayor Edwin Olivarez ordered local authorities to inspect the gated subdivision upon the request of residents who were convinced many of these facilities continued to operate in the area.

Their suspicions, they said in a letter to Olivarez, were based on the scores of Chinese nationals who had been spotted frequenting many houses and buildings inside the village.

Multiple charges

A Chinese national, Youngchun Cai, who was allegedly managing the clinic found on the third floor of a commercial building on Multinational Avenue, was arrested. The 51-year-old suspect who refused to answer questions from authorities would be charged with violating the sanitation code, Philippine Pharmacy Act and the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

Seized during the raid were 64 boxes of drugs with Chinese markings that were either in tablet, capsule or liquid form. Used to treat cough, influenza, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and even COVID-19, none of the medicines were approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Instead of treating their patients, they may get killed [because of these drugs],” city health officer Dr. Olga Virtusio said.

“It cannot be disputed. This establishment is being used as an illegal clinic or illegal hospital,” city administrator Fernando Soriano added.

Also confiscated were dextrose stands, medical chairs, stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers and 40 plastic bags of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment and face masks.

On May 29, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation raided a house on Timothy Street inside the subdivision and found a makeshift clinic for Chinese nationals, particularly employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo).

Police matters

Local authorities claimed security officers of the village might be in cahoots with the foreigners while some residents criticized the homeowners board for being reactive to the rise of criminal activities in the area.In a phone interview on Sunday, Multinational Village Homeowners Association Inc. (MVHAI) president Arnel Gacutan said they were fully cooperating with local authorities, but admitted they could not conduct inspections themselves as these were “police matters.”

“We are one with the authorities and residents in getting rid not just of every illegal Chinese clinic in Multinational, but all of the illegal establishments here,” he added.

The board is currently deliberating on whether or not to renew MVHAI’s three-year contract with Dura Lex Security and Investigation Agency Inc. set to expire this year.

“There may indeed be familiarity between our guards and our Chinese residents. We will not condone it if there are wrongdoings committed by the village security, provided the complainants will work with us and show evidence of such,” Gacutan said.

Residents had expressed concern that the influx of Chinese Pogo residents and illegal clinics in the village would place them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

4 confirmed cases

According to Gacutan, there were four confirmed coronavirus cases in the village although the patients were medical front-liners who were infected at work.“There is no community transmission here in Multinational,” he said.

Two other similar clinics were earlier found in the city, one at Diamond Bay Tower on Roxas Boulevard and the other on Airport Road in Barangay Baclaran.