ILOILO City – The camp of an aesthetic practitioner, who was subjected to an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for alleged illegal practice of medicine and estafa, maintains that their client did not violate any laws and should have been afforded due process, especially the “presumption of innocence”.
According to Atty. Joebert Pahilga, legal counsel of the aesthetic practitioner entrapped by the NBI recently, his client’s company holds complete permits and licenses, legitimizing its operations as an aesthetic company.
“Ang mga allegation sang NBI regarding sa pag-operate una sang company nga wala sang lisensya, indi matuod. May ara nga licenses for which kumpleto na ang company,” Atty. Pahilga told Panay News.
Pahilga also mentioned that his client, a graduate of Medicine, has worked as an aesthetic practitioner for many years abroad in places like Singapore, Europe, Korea, Myanmar, acquiring various certificates and training before deciding to return to the Philippines to establish the company.
Regarding NBI’s allegation against his client of performing cosmetic surgery, Atty. Pahilga clarified that there is a resident doctor in the company who performs such procedures.
“Ang allegation sang NBI that she is engaging in cosmetics surgery is not true. Wala sia naga-engage sa sina. May ara resident or trained doctor ang company nga naga-issue sina,” Atty. Pahilga added.
Furthermore, Atty. Pahilga stated that the company’s services have been excellent, receiving no complaints from clients, many of whom return to avail themselves of the company’s services repeatedly.
Atty. Pahilga said the NBI should have granted his client due process, especially the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by the court, as this situation has significantly impacted his client’s and the company’s image.
“We will file a counter-affidavit para masabat kag ma-explain ang side sang akon client kag pamatian sang fiscal kag husgado and then depende sa korte ukon prosecutor kon ano ila appreciation kon ma-fall ang ginhimu sa so-called illegal pratice of medicine,” Atty. Pahilga elaborated.
Previously, NBI director Jaime Santiago alleged that the subject presented themselves as an aesthetic doctor offering cosmetic treatments. However, he said, NBI discovered that the subject is not a registered physician, as confirmed by the Professional Regulation Commission, which stated that the subject does not hold a Certificate of Registration from the Medical Board Commission./PN
