AUTHORITIES arrested a man claiming to have invented a cure for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and his son for selling the fake medicines.
Ismael Gregorio Aviso and his son Ismael Aviso Jr. were arrested in an entrapment operation on Sunday, March 22, in Dagat-dagatan, Navotas City.
Charges for violation of FDA Act of 2009, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 20112, Data Privacy Act of 2012, estafa and unlawful use of publication and unlawful utterances will be filed against the suspects.
A report from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said a poseur buyer was able to buy from the suspects P7,500 worth of fake medicines in spray and tablet forms.
The operation stemmed from a report received by the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit of Calabarzon regarding medicinal products that sellers claim will counter Covid-19. These are being marketed through social media.
Police said the older Aviso was credited with inventing a motionless electric generator in 2011.
He claimed to have invented the cure for Covid-19 just as he also claimed in 2019 to have found a cure for dengue fever.
In August and September 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued public health warnings against Aviso’s products.
Brigadier General Dennis Agustin, PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group director, called for the cooperation of the public in stopping the circulation of false claims and sensationalized information about the pandemic.
He said his men are continuously conducting cyber patrolling to trace the source of fake news on social media.
The World Health Organization has said that no cure has been found for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. (SunStar Philippines)