Two arrested in raid at Philippine illegal hospital for Chinese coronavirus patients

Over 200 suspected rapid test kits and a patient were found at the villa in Clark Freeport that had been illegally turned into a seven-bed hospital

Police said most of the medical facility’s clients may have come from the large numbers of Chinese nationals working in online gambling outfits

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Police teams inspect a seven-bed hospital during a raid at a villa, which was illegally turned into a medical facility in Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, northwest of Manila. Photo: AP

Published: 4:38pm, 20 May 2020Updated: 10:23pm, 20 May 2020

Philippine police raided a clandestine hospital and pharmacy that was secretly treating Chinese nationals suspected of being infected with the coronavirus, police officials said on Wednesday.

Two people were arrested and one patient was found during Tuesday’s raid at the residential villa that had been illegally turned into a seven-bed hospital and drug store, Police Brigadier General Rhoderick Armamento said.

More than 200 suspected coronavirus rapid test kits and syringes were recovered from trash cans at the villa, which has a small canteen with stacks of beer cases at the lobby entrance where a red sign welcomed visitors with well wishes in Chinese.

The hospital and drug store are in a large room by the swimming pool at the back of the compound, according to Armamento and a police video.

Police teams inspect a drug store beside a hospital during a raid on a villa which was illegally turned into a medical facility in Clark Freeport. Photo: AP

The Chinese male patient was moved to a Philippine hospital. Those arrested were the Chinese administrator of the hospital, which may have been operating secretly for about three months, and a compatriot who manned the drug store, he said.

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