Manila crackdown on illegal Chinese anti-Covid clinics

Police identified centers that offered treatment to people with symptoms related to coronavirus. The patients were all foreigners, mainly Chinese. The fear is that the sick could still be infected and spread the virus. In the archipelago over 15500 infections and 921 official victims.

Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Philippine authorities have identified and suspended some illegal Chinese clinics on their territory, which did not have the necessary authorizations. They were reserved for foreigners and dedicated to the care of the new coronavirus. The investigators discovered the underground activity, starting from the arrest made in recent days of two Chinese citizens in Makati, who claimed - lying - to be doctors and to manage specialized Covid-19 nursing homes.

Philippine Minister of Justice Mendardo Guevarra has ordered the police to track down people, all foreigners, who have undergone treatments in these centers and "whose movement could pose a risk" because they are still infected, at least potentially.

The two Chinese citizens, who had no identification documents, are 49-year-old David Lai and 41-year-old Bruce Liao (or Liao Songhua). Both must respond to the charge of medical practice without the necessary authorizations, including the prescription of medicines and the violation of the provisions on "infectious diseases". During the searches, the agents allegedly found four Chinese "patients", three men and a woman, who showed symptoms attributable to the new coronavirus.

Previously, two other Chinese citizens, already released, had been detained on 18 May in a villa in Clark Freeport, north of Manila. According to a source, the couple (Hu Ling, 45 years old and Lee Seung Hyun, 38) were in possession of a regular residence permit, but were not authorized to treat patients or practice the medical profession.

The two Chinese citizens are now under investigation and face trial. During the searches, the investigators seized medicines and medical supplies that had not received the Philippine Food and Drug Administration certification. Both are included in an "alert" list and will not be able to leave the country "until the investigation is completed", with probable indictment and civil action against them.

The latest cases confirm the crackdown by the Philippine authorities on the Chinese "secret clinics", which represent a danger to public health. The housing unit containing the illegal clinic was rented on January 7th for a sum of over $ 2400 a month. Inside, the police found "boxes and kits for the coronavirus test, some Chinese medicines and Viagra" as well as a computer with the list of "patients" treated since March inside.

The Philippines peaked yesterday with 539 new coronavirus infections. In total, 15588 infections have been reported to date since the start of the pandemic, with 921 official victims. Nevertheless, on the advice of the technical-scientific committee, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the relaxation of restrictions and the end of the complete lockdown in Manila.