CIDG raids call center: Fake drugs sale going on online

CEBU, Philippines - A call center in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City was raided by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Manila for allegedly selling fake drugs online.

The 7/24 Care Incorporated, with office at the 2nd floor of A.D Gothong I.T Center Building along Lopez Jaena Street in barangay Subangdaku, was raided by the CIDG-Manila in cooperation with the CIDG-7 and the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) past 10 p.m. last Monday.

The search warrant was signed by Executive Judge Marino De la Cruz of the Regional Trial Court Branch 22 Manila. In the warrant, owners, managers and officers of the said call center violated R.A 8484 or “An Act Regulating the Issuance of Access Devices, Prohibiting Fraudulent Acts Committed Relative thereto, providing  penalties and for other purposes.”

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals allegedly filed a complaint against the said call center after they were able to prove that the said call center was selling Viagra, a sex enhancement capsule, in the internet.

In last Monday evening’s raid, the police team led by P Sr./Supt. Gilbert Soza, head of the Trans-National and Cyber Crimes Division,  was met by the call center’s lawyer Dominador Cafe.

Tension rose as the police would not allow the agency’s more than 100 call center agents go home after midnight when the raid took place.

 Cafe even sought the help of reporters to witness the way the CIDG handled the operation. It came to a point that the police handcuffed Cafe for his defiance of the police decision not to allow the workers to go home.

Cafe reasoned that what was stipulated in the search warrant was only to confiscate all the computers and electronic devices used in the operation of the call center. The lawyer allowed himself to be handcuffed if only to prove his point that the police cannot stop the employees from going home.

“Ako silang gi-ingnan nga allowed lang sila to confiscate our computers and other electronic devices base sa nakabutang sa search warrant. Nadugay naminaw ra man nuon sila, busa nangatawa na lang mi,” Cafe said in a TV interview. (I told them that the search warrant only mentioned the confiscation of computers and other devices. They eventually gave in and for that, we laughed.)

Café complained against the big losses suffered by the agency because of the raid. He said that the call center started its operation in February this year but denied that the company is selling fake drugs in the internet.

He said that their call center is just into selling insurances and home call services.

Meanwhile, Soza said that although there was tension, this later eased. “May konting tension apan napag-ayos naman.”

He said they seized computers which could help them in conducting a thorough investigation. He further said that there were actual purchases recorded, and this will boost their evidence. They are still collating more evidence to strengthen their case.

“We will also be asking the expertise of other law enforcement agencies and the assistance of the US-based pharmacy,” he said.

Soza said they are looking into similar cases in the other parts of the country and in Metro Cebu but they are prioritizing complaints lodged before their office./JPM (FREEMAN)