P36.9-M beauty products seized in QC condo

MANILA, Philippines — More than P36.9 million worth of unregistered beauty and cosmetic products were seized during a raid on a condominium unit being used as a warehouse in Quezon City yesterday.

Boxes containing unregistered whitening products, piled to the ceiling of the two-bedroom unit, were confiscated during the implementation of a search warrant in Barangay Bahay Toro at around 10 a.m.

Michelle Cablayan, who was arrested earlier this week, admitted to police that she kept more products stashed at her condominium unit, which led police to secure the search warrant. 

Cablayan, the owner of Mikhaela’s Beauty Essentials, was allegedly selling unregistered products at a lower price to online and offline clients without the license to operate from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Police said that they were able to buy a box of injectable glutathione from Cablayan for only P3,200 online prior to her arrest. 

The seizure was an offshoot of the arrest of Cablayan and eight others in simultaneous raids by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) last Tuesday, which led to the confiscation of an estimated P13 million worth of products.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said this shows that illegal trading of harmful unregistered products is “widespread,” especially for some Filipinos who want whiter skin at a cheaper price. 

Eleazar said they are still investigating where Cablayan sourced her products, which she often repacked at her condominium unit with a made-up manufacturing and expiry date. 

Probers added that some dermatology clinics and doctors also got their products from Cablayan. 

Guillermo Dinago, deputy of the FDA Regulatory Enforcement Unit, said the FDA found that the products Cablayan sold, which included unregistered glutathione injectables, capsules, lotions, and soaps, were improperly stored.  

He warned that injecting or consuming unregistered products could lead to poisoning and other harmful effects to the body.

The arrested suspects face charges of violation of Republic Act 9711, the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009.