Clark Freeport—Clark Development Corporation arrested two Chinese nationals and ordered the full lockdown of Fontana Leisure Park inside Clark Freeport due to the illegal use of the facility as a treatment hub for Chinese patients with the deadly COVID-19.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit of the Philippine National Police Region III, the Food and Drug Administration, and CDC swooped down on a villa in Fontana last Tuesday, May 19.
CDC said the illegal activity not only violated the law but was also potentially dangerous to the patients due to the nature of the disease needing expert diagnostic treatment from qualified medical practitioners.
In a statement, the agency said it did not and would never tolerate the said or similar activities inside the Freeport, 88 kilometers north of Manila.
CIDU3 director Colonel Amante Daro identified those arrested as Hu Ling, 44, hospital supervisor, and Lee Seung Hyun, 38, pharmacist, both temporarily staying at no. 627 Fontana Villa in this freeport.
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The medical facility, Daro said, is along Florida Street. Fontana Villa, Fontana Resort and Leisure Park.
Daro said a suspected COVID-19 patient identified as Lee Wang was confined at the hospital during the raid.
They were taken to PNP Regional Office in Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando.
Aside from the operators who are now facing criminal charges, the CDC will also hold into account the management of Fontana for allowing this to happen within their property.
“We assure Clark stakeholders, the locators, local communities and residents especially, that we will not stop until all those involved are prosecuted and punished,” CDC said.
Daro said his office received a letter of complaint from one of the resort occupants, citing the existence of a hospital where a suspected COVID-19 patient was being treated there.
Acting on the complaint, Daro said his men coordinated with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease, Food and Drugs Authority, and Department of Health to check and inspect the area where they found cubicles inside.
A pharmacy with stocks of Chinese-labelled drugs purportedly intended for patients was discovered operational, said Daro.
He said representatives from the FDA and DOH seized the medicines and other medical supplies inside the pharmacy.
Criminal charges are being readied against the suspects including the owner of Fontana Resort and Leisure Park for alleged violation of the Republic Act 9711 and RA 2393 also known as the Medicine Act of 1958.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice on Wednesday ordered the Bureau of Immigration to assist in identifying and tracking down the Chinese nationals suspected to be infected with the coronavirus disease and sought treatment at an unauthorized medical facility in Pampanga.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there was strong possibility these Chinese nationals, who were patients of the makeshift hospital, were still “dangerously roaming around.”
“I have instructed the BI to coordinate with the Philippine National Police/local government unit in tracking down these Chinese and other nationals who sought treatment from this unauthorized medical facility in Pampanga and who could still be dangerously roaming around,” Guevarra said in a text message.
