Fake dentist doing drive-thru dental procedure nabbed in Batangas

Authorities arrested a woman pretending to be a dentist when she was caught in the act doing a drive-thru dental procedure in Batangas City.

The suspect, identified only as Nimfa (not her real name), was nabbed in a parking lot by operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Batangas, according to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday by GMA Regional TV Live host Nikko Sereno.

Video provided by CIDG Batangas showed the suspect about to put braces on a police asset who pretended to be a patient, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog earlier reported.

Authorities also confiscated the dental equipment and the braces that were supposed to be fitted onto the "patient".

"Parokyano ng ating suspek ay within the province of Batangas. Nagta-transact sila online na nakikipagkilala na kaya nga niyang magkabit ng braces. So mae-engganyo naman ang ating mga victims dahil mas mura at pupunta pa sa 'yo," a police official said.

(The suspects' clients are those within the province of Batangas. They transact online and she says she can put on braces. Victims are encouraged to go to the suspect because she charges less and will even go to you.)

CIDG Batangas operatives were able to track down the suspect based on information provided by the Philippine Dental Association (PDA).

"Ang magiging parusa nito ay P200 to P500,000 penalty or pagkakakulong ng 2-5 years and puwede rin pong both penalty, meron pong bayad na pera at meron din pong pagkakakulong," Dra. Narisa Ragos, deputy chair of the Campaign Against Illegal Practice-PDA, said.

(The penalty will range from P200 to P500,000 or jail term of two to five years. But it can also be both penalty or fine and a jail term.)

The suspect said she learned how to put braces by watching videos online.

She regretted doing dental procedures and advised the public not to do the same if they are not licensed dentists.

"Sana huwag na nilang gawin 'yung mali kasi ganito ang mangyayari sa kanila," the suspect said.

(I hope they will not do what is wrong because this is what would happen to them.)

The suspect will face charges of violation of Republic Act 9484 or the Philippine Dental Act of 2007. —KG, GMA Integrated News