THREE persons were arrested here by joint operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation – Dagupan District Office (NBI-DADO) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), for selling of overpriced alcohol and other medical supplies.

Atty, Rizaldy Jaymalin, NBI-DADO chief, said the suspects Robert Alcantara, Paul Kenneth Crisostomo, and Chuck Reyes – all from Caloocan City, were caught in an entrapment operation in a rented apartment in Dagupan City.

NBI agents got wind of the suspects’ activities while searching online for potential targets, with reports received by DTI.

“One of the suspects was a former medical representative of a pharmaceutical company”, said Jaymalin.

The entrapment resulted in the seizure of 92 gallons of ethyl alcohol being sold for P680, higher than DTI’s suggested ceiling price of PHP580 per gallon.

Initial investigation showed the suspects purchased the gallons of alcohol from a manufacturer in Caloocan. They managed to get past through checkpoints by posing as medical supplies couriers.

Jaymalin believes one of the suspects was familiar with Dagupan City having working as a med rep.

NBI-DADO is currently filing a petition with the court to distribute the gallons to hospitals and frontliners, instead of storing them as evidence.

“Frontliners and health workers need the alcohol badly, which is why we are filing a petition before the court to allow us to distribute these, instead of storing these gallons as evidence”, Jaymalin added.

This is the second operation of the NBI-DADO in the province, that already resulted in the arrest of six suspects.

The first operation was conducted last March 23, also in Dagupan City.

“Tigilan na po nating manamantala ng mga tao. Sa panahon ng krisis, we need to help each other, and fight COVID-19 as one”, said Jaymalin. (Ahikam Pasion)

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