SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — Around 273 containers of cooking oil were seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Barangay Patul of this city on 26 June.

The report was released by the CIDG Wednesday, citing that the seizure of the P1. 344,799-worth of cooking oil also led to the arrest of two Indian nationals.

According to CIDG Acting Director Police Brigadier General Romeo J. Macapaz, the two Indian nationals were identified as 47-year-old woman Kulvinder and 22-year-old man Kamaljot, believed to be mother and son.

Macapaz said that the CIDG Santiago City Field Unit together with Food and Drug Administration Cagayan Valley Region conducted buy-bust operation in the aforementioned barangay in Santiago City, citing that the cooking oil are not registered with the FDA, and traded without License to Operate.

The official emphasized that it is the policy of the state to protect and promote the right to health of the Filipino people; and help establish and maintain an effective health products regulatory system. Pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act (RA) 9711.

RA 9711, otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009,” is the manufacture, importation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer of health and food products without the required authorization is prohibited.

“Since these food products have not gone through evaluation process of the FDA, its quality and safety cannot be assured,” he said.