Dental association: There are many ‘fake dentists’ in Bacolod City

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Agents of the Bacolod City National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod (NBI-Bacolod) raided a Bacolod City clinic last Thursday on allegations dentists were practicing without licenses.

Eremilo Barrios’ clinic on Hernaez Street was the subject of a search warrant issued by the Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Branch 50.

NBI Special Investigator II Geovil Apelio told Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod the raid was prompted by a complaint filed by the Negros Occidental chapter of the Philippine Dental Association, who claimed there are many ‘fake dentists’ operating in Bacolod City.

The NBI official pointed out, they obtained a Professional Regulation Commission certification list and Barrios’ name did not appear on the master list of individuals authorized to practice dentistry in the Philippines.

Various dental equipment, tools, dental chair, and a compressor were seized.

Earlier that day, a separate raid was conducted on an “illegal dental clinic” located at the DC 3 Regent Pearl Subdivision in Bacolod City’s Barangay Alijis.

The NBI did not release the name of the suspect in that case.

Under RA 9584, or the Philippine Dental Act of 2007, practicing dentistry without a license results in a P200,000 to P500,000 cash penalty and two to five years imprisonment./DGB, WDJ