Philippines cracks down on secret Chinese coronavirus clinics after facilities raided

A probe of all ‘clandestine medical clinics’ catering mostly to foreigners has been ordered by the country’s Justice Secretary Mendardo Guevarra

It follows the arrest on Tuesday of two Chinese nationals claiming to be doctors in Makati and earlier raids on other clinics operating illegally

Reading Time:4 minutes

Philippine police patrol a community in Metro Manila earlier this month amid the capital’s coronavirus lockdown. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:29pm, 28 May 2020Updated: 9:35pm, 28 May 2020

Philippine authorities are cracking down on secret clinics reportedly treating foreign nationals with coronavirus symptoms and will file charges against their operators, Justice Secretary Mendardo Guevarra said on Thursday.

He also ordered the police to trace the whereabouts of foreigners who had undergone treatment in such facilities and “who could still be dangerously roaming around”.

Guevarra’s comments came after the police released two Chinese nationals who had been detained in a raid of a seven-bed clandestine clinic operating inside a villa in Clark Freeport, north of Manila, on May 18. Police sources said the pair had been placed in “the custody” of Shidaikeji Technology – the corporation which leased out the villa that was raided.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they did not have the authority to comment publicly, said Hu Ling, 45, and Lee Seung Hyun, 38, had not been arrested initially but “invited for investigation” and were found to be carrying “legitimate visas” – although whether these allowed them to treat patients, the sources could not say.

A blood sample is collected for coronavirus testing from a person in Metro Manila earlier this month. Photo: EPA

Both will still be charged and “cases are being prepared for filing”, the sources said, adding that they were waiting for confirmation that the medications seized had not been certified by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x