NBI raids yield P100,000 in fake hypertension drugs

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently confiscated alleged imitations of hypertension drugs worth over P100,000 from four different pharmacies in Laguna province.

NBI Chief of Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) head agent Jose Justo Yap said the NBI team found some 2,323 pieces of fake hypertension and vasodilator drugs in pharmacies in San Pablo City, Laguna.

Plendil is an anti-hypertension drug prescribed to lower a person’s blood pressure, while Imdur is a vasodilator recommended for persons with heart ailments. Persons under these medications need a doctor’s prescription to purchase either drug.

Charges of violation of the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs were lodged against Restituto Puntanar, owner of 3K Pharmacy and Drug Distributor located on the ground floor of the San Pablo Mall on Regidor St; Wilfredo Bicomong, owner of Ellocin Drug located at 98 Lopez Jaena St.; the Sto. Angel Pharmacy located at A. Flores St. and; Marissa Exconde and Celerina Cuello, proprietor of Farmacia Luz located at stalls 61 and 62 of the ground floor of the San Pablo Mall.

The Bengzon Negre Untalan law firm located at the second floor of the Sedcco Building in Makati City acted as the complainant on behalf of pharmaceutical firm United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca, PLC.

The law firm sought the assistance of the NBI-IPRD after they received information that the four drugstores were selling bogus Imdur and Plendil medicines. To verify the complaint, the NBI conducted several test buys from these drugstores.

Once the NBI confirmed the report, they applied for a search warrant from Acting Executive Judge Romulo Villanueva of the San Pablo Regional Trial Court in Laguna. They seized 1,364 pieces of Plendil and 959 pieces of Imdur. – Evelyn Macairan and Theo Agcaoili