TWO fake dentists were convicted for violating Republic Act 9484 or the Philippine Dental Act of 2007 on Tuesday, December 11, at the Branch 4 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.
The accused were identified as couple Rezil and Joelan Estoy, residents of Purok 3C, Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C, Davao City.
The couple was charged with two counts of violation of Section 33 in RA 9484 for operating dental practices without certification, registration and professional identification card and without permit issued in the provision of the act of PDA.
The accused were sentenced to three years of imprisonment.
However, they are intending to apply for probation.
It can be recalled, that on August 10 and September 26, 2017, the couple were arrested for practicing illegal dental procedures. It was also verified last year at the Philippine Commission Regulation and PDA that the names of the accused did not appear in the list of licensed dentists authorized to practice dentistry in the country.
"Happy ako at least we're able to show to the Dabawenyos and Philippine Dental Association that we're able to convict them," Philippine Dental Mindanao chairman committee against Illegal Practicing in Dentistry doctor Carlos Capitan II said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
Capitan said their association along with their partners, the National Bureau of Investigation-Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO), Anti-Scam Unit-Davao City Mayor's Office, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Department of Health Davao Region, will continue the campaign against fake and illegal practices of dentists since their concern is the sanitation of the dental practice and apparatuses and safety of the patients.
He added that the improper sanitation practice may lead to infections such as Hepatitis C, Acquired Immunodefiency Syndrome (Aids) and other infection-related diseases.
Capitan said that there are already three persons who were convicted for illegal dental practices in Davao City.