Patient’s face became hard, swollen: ‘Bogus’ beauty doctor nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — A woman who claimed to be a licensed physician offering cosmetic treatments and procedures was arrested during an entrapment operation by National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) last Friday at a hotel in Brgy. Lahug, Cebu City.

She was identified as Dimber Dela Cruz Celis, 33, of Brgy. Puerto, Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao.

The operation stemmed from the complaint lodged by Cebu City resident “Flora”, 27, who acquired Celis’ service by having an “eye filler” for her eye bags and another injection on her jawline last April 15.

Last July 22, two more complainants also contacted the NBI, alleging that Celis also victimized them.

Flora said that she connected with Celis through a Facebook advertisement of a business named Glowing Beauty. They began exchanging messages until Flora decided to purchase the services offered and paid P8,000 for the procedures.

A few weeks later, however, Flora's face became severely swollen, with her under eye area hardening and various complications started developing.

She consulted at least two licensed physicians about her condition and received consistent advice from both: the substance injected into her face needed to be removed, which would necessitate surgery.

On July 17, Celis unexpectedly contacted Flora, informing her that she would be returning to Cebu and offering to correct the procedure for a small fee. Flora decided to seek the NBI’s help.

During the entrapment operation, the NBI-CEVRO found several vials of different medicines, some with foreign labels—along with used and unused syringes and surgical gloves in Celis' possession.

Celis claimed that she reached out to Flora again and returned to Cebu to help her visit a doctor for a check-up and to cover for her expenses.

“Ang layo-layo pa nang pinanggalingan pero ganito. Willing naman ako mag-assist sa kaniya…pupunta ba ako dito kung pinabayaan ko,” Celis said.

Celis, a single mother of six, denied the allegations that she claimed to be a licensed physician. In her defense, she stated that she only mentioned holding a certificate as an esthetician.

Atty. Wenceslao Galendez of NBI-CEVRO, however, said only doctors can inject prescribe, treat illness, may it imaginary or real, and they should be licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission, which Celis did not have.

“What she did is tantamount to an action which can only be done by a licensed physician. Bisan moingon pa siya nga esthetician siya, okay, you are an esthetician, but you are not allowed to inject or treat somebody without having a license from PRC,” said Galendez.

Celis was also unable to provide any relevant documents proving her authority and license to do what she did to Flora.

Galendez said they would have the medicine vials seized from Celis verified with the assistance of the Food and Drug Administration.

NBI-CEVRO also uncovered that Celis had been arrested in 2020 for syndicated estafa in Butuan City, where she was allegedly the leader and founder of orex Rice Trading Group.

Additionally, the NBI-Western Visayas Regional Office also filed a complaint against Celis for another illegal practice of medicine in Iloilo City in 2023.

Galendez said Celis will face complaints for violation of Republic Act (RA) 2382 for illegal practice of medicine and swindling, penalized under the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

NBI-CEVRO advises people to be careful when seeking medical services and to check the credentials of the one offering them. It also asked anyone with information or with similar experiences to come forward to help in the investigation.— (FREEMAN)