Suspects selling allegedly overpriced tocilizumab nabbed in Cavite

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Thursday arrested two individuals in an entrapment operation in Cavite after allegedly selling overpriced arthritis drug tocilizumab, which is used to treat COVID-19 patients.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras,” authorities arrested Terence Jabatan and his accomplice, Romanito Bigkas, in Bacoor, Cavite.  

The CIDG retrieved one bottle of tocilizumab from the suspects.

“‘Yung mga nangangailangan po sa pharmacy or sa ospital. Hindi po kaliwaan. Hindi din po tayo sigurado kung talagang authentic ‘yung binibili nating gamot,” deputy provincial officer Police Major Daniel Yema said.

[For those who need the drug, purchase it from the pharmacy or hospital. You’re not sure if what you’re buying is really authentic.]

The CIDG said that the drug was being sold for P80,000 per bottle, almost triple the price indicated in the market.

“Ito pong tocilizumab ay merong wholesale price na P20,000 tapos meron siyang maximum retail price na P28,000. Online po, ginagamit po nila social media sa pag bebenta,” Yema said.

Jabatan, meanwhile, said he only sought to help others who needed the drug.

“Binili ko po siya ng P79,000, pinasa ko lang ng P79,000 po. Walang tutok, walang bayad na kahit anong interes kasi kahit ngayon may marinig kayo na mamatay ang tatay ko, in good heart, tutulong at tutulong ka,” Jabatan said.

In a separate operation, the CIDG also arrested live-in-partners Arnold Menor and Janmarie Mangosing. Authorities retrieved one bottle of tocilizumab that was being sold at P80,000.

The suspect said they did not know that the selling of tocilizumab was prohibited.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News