The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized over three million pesos worth of fake cooking oil in Santiago City, Isabela.
In a raid conducted by the CIDG Santiago City Field Unit – CIDG Regional Field Unit 2 along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) North Luzon Cluster at the NB Cooking Oil Trading Warehouse in Brgy. Buenavista, Santiago City, three suspects were apprehended: alias ‘Bonaleth’, owner and manager of Cooking Oil Trading; alias ‘Catherine’ as cashier; and alias ‘John’ as delivery worker, while selling and distributing recycled, unlabeled, unregistered, and fake cooking oil.
Included among the items confiscated in the warehouse were approximately 173 gallons of suspected recycled and adulterated unlabeled cooking oil; a digital weighing scale; a funnel; a closed van; and a ten-wheeler tanker truck marked with “NB Cooking Oil,” with an estimated total value of around Php 3,500,000.00.
Suspects were charged before the National Prosecution Service for violations of Section 11(k) of RA 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009) for selling unregistered or misbranded health products; RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) for false labeling and unsafe goods; and RA 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013) for violations of food safety standards and selling adulterated or misbranded products.
FDA North Luzon Cluster immediately padlocked and sealed the warehouse due to non-compliance with the FDA laws and regulations.
PMGen Nicolas D Torre III, Director of CIDG, emphasized that the government protects the rights and health of consumers from malpractice in trade and from substandard or hazardous products.
Torre III also urged the public to be more vigilant in checking labels, FDA registration, and safety compliance and also report all criminalities and illegal trade practices.#
