3 nabbed for illegal sale of COVID drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Three persons were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Pasay for allegedly selling medicine used to treat COVID-19.

Karen Amero, Ronaldo Ceriola and Erickson Soriano were arrested in a sting launched by the NBI Anti-Graft Division last Sept. 28.

The NBI launched the operation upon a tip from the Food and Drug Administration about the illegal sale of remdesivir, tocilizumab, baricitinib and other COVID-19 medicines, according to NBI officer-in-charge director Eric Distor.

Amero was the manager of LMCSL Trading, while Ceriola and Soriano were the riders in charge of delivering the medicines that were sold online.

They will face charges for violating the Food and Drug Administration Act and the Philippine Pharmacy Act.