The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a Chinese national in Pasay City for allegedly practicing medicine without a license.

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented the Chinese national, identified as Xu Jianxin, also known as Zhang Lin, to the media.

Xu Jianxin was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by NBI-National Capital Region operatives on December 3 at a restaurant’s stockroom in Pasay City.

The suspect was believed to be continuing the operations of the nearby Tai An Clinic, which had been previously closed following a raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

“This is the clinic that had been padlocked. For some reason, they continued to operate,” said NBI Spokesperson and NBI-NCR Director Ferdinand Lavin.

NBI-NCR operatives recovered various Chinese medicines and medical equipment from the suspect. Lavin stated that these items were not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

Xu Jianxin was presented to the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 2382, the Medical Act of 1959, and RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The NBI initiated the operation after receiving reports that the clinic was still offering medical services to Chinese nationals through calls and messages on the Telegram app.

The Department of Health certified that Tai An Clinic is not a licensed general clinical laboratory and has no pending license to operate.

Additionally, the Professional Regulation Commission confirmed that Xu Jianxin is not authorized to practice medicine in the Philippines.