More than P1.2 million worth of various counterfeit over-the-counter medicines have been confiscated by Food and Drug Administration officials from an alleged distributor of fake drugs.
Alexis Asistio, 36, was arrested in his house on Orion Street in Tondo, Manila, FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno said.
She said aside from deceiving and defrauding consumers, the suspect was endangering people’s lives, health and safety.
“The presence, proliferation and selling of counterfeit OTC medicines in the market poses a great danger and health risks to the consumers,” Puno said.
“The public should be wary and vigilant against those fake OTC medicines. Consumers should buy them only from reputable drug stores.”
Seized from Asistio were 298 boxes of Bioflu (100 tabs per box); 200 boxes of Biogesic (500 tabs/box); 195 boxes of Alaxan FR (100 tabs/box); 395 boxes of Medicol Advance (100 tabs/box); 148 boxes of Neozep Forte (100 tabs/box); 48 boxes of Solmux (100 tabs/box); 18 boxes of Kremil S (100 tabs/box); 8 boxes Dolfenal (100 tabs/box); 8 boxes Flanax Forte (250 tabs/box); 5 boxes Gardan (200 tabs/box); 3 boxes Imodium (200 tabs/box); and 4 pcs. Dermovate ointment.
Retired Police Chief Supt. Allen Bantolo, Officer-in-Charge of the FDA Regulatory Enforcement Unit, said the suspect was caught in possession of the counterfeit medicines for no other purpose than illicit distribution and sale, and that he had no license from the FDA.
“Asistio and his associates are believed to be distributing and selling these assorted fake OTC products to sari-sari and similar small stores in Metro Manila at cheap prices, and offering substantial profits to the vulnerable and uninformed store owners,” Bantolo said.
The suspect was arrested in at his residence on Oct. 29.
Officials confirmed Asistio’s illicit activity after securing samples of the OTC medicines, which were subsequently confirmed as fake by Zuellig Pharma, Johnson and Johnson, Unilab and Pfizer, the manufacturers of the medicines.
