5 Chinese nabbed, P1.6M unregistered drinks seized in Pampanga warehouse

Five Chinese nationals were arrested while more than P1.6 million worth of unregistered energy and chocolate milk drinks were recovered from a warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga on Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

In a statement, the PNP said the foreigners were arrested for the alleged illegal manufacture and distribution of food products that were not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Also confiscated were more than 1,000 cases of energy drinks and over 3,000 boxes of chocolate milk drinks worth P1.619 million.

The products were not registered with the FDA, which the PNP said posed potential health risks to customers. The seized unregistered beverages are now under temporary safekeeping pending appropriate legal proceedings.

The operation was carried out following a tip on the alleged widespread sale of unregistered food products.

The PNP said its operatives confirmed that the warehouse was allegedly engaged in large-scale food manufacturing without proper registration from the FDA.

Another individual involved in the warehouse operations is still at large.

“Ang ating trabaho ay hindi lamang pagpapatupad ng batas kung di pagprotekta sa kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. We will not allow unregistered or unsafe products to reach our communities,” PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

(Our work is not just to enforce the law, but to protect the health of each Filipino. We will not allow unregistered or unsafe products to reach our communities.)

Nartatez reminded the public to always be vigilant and on the lookout for unregistered food products.

“Laging i-check ang FDA registration ng inyong binibili. If a product is unregistered, it may pose health risks. Huwag natin hayaang mapahamak ang ating pamilya at komunidad,” he said.

(Always check the FDA registration of the products that you purchase. If a product is unregistered, it may pose health risks. Let us not put our families and communities in danger.)

The PNP said cases are being prepared for violation of Republic Act 9711 or the FDA Act of 2009 and the Philippine Immigration Act against the arrested foreigners. — JMA, GMA Integrated News