NBI seizes fakeViagra pills

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently apprehended three male persons after they were allegedly caught selling imitations of anti-erectile dysfunction drugs worth P20,000 in the streets and through magazine advertisements.

Regional Director Elfren Meneses Jr., of the NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division, said they apprehended Jerome Boreros, 27, of Barangay Guiban, Cogeo, Rizal; Stephen John Tan, 34, of Kilyawan Street, San Roque II, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City; and Antonio Medrano, of 5116 Malibay Street, Pasay City.

Separate test-buy operations were conducted in response to the complaint filed by Pfizer Inc., through its representative the Esguerra & Blanco Law Office, whose office is located at the 4th floor of the S&L Building, Dela Rosa corner Esteban Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Initial investigation conducted by agent Dennis Siyhian showed Boreros and Tan allegedly placed an advertisement in a magazine to sell fake Viagra pills. The agent inquired about the product through a text message and a certain “Jerome” reportedly admitted that he was selling 100mg Pfizer Viagra tablets for the price of P700 per box. Each box contains four tablets.

The entrapment operation was scheduled at the parking lot of a fastfood store at the corner of Quezon and Araneta Avenues, Quezon City at 11 p.m. on Oct. 16.

The poseur buyer approached two male persons, one of whom fit Jerome’s description. When the suspects handed over the brown paper bag containing the said pills to the NBI asset, the operatives approached them but they only succeeded in arresting Boreros.

Tan was able to elude arrest and the NBI agents had to chase him. They caught up with him at the creek near Quezon Avenue.

Medrano was arrested in a separate operation. He was a vendor on the overpass situated along Quezon Boulevard and Raon Street. From him, the NBI purchased 20 boxes of 100mg Viagra.