A 22-year-old woman was caught providing dental services to a personnel of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, posing as a patient, leading to her immediate arrest in Jaro, Iloilo City.

According to PNP-ACG spokesperson Police Capt. Wallen Mae Arancillo, investigations revealed that the suspect had been engaged in medical malpractice since 2024. She also established a mini clinic inside her house in Jaro.

Arancillo noted that the suspect has no license to operate and provide dental care services; she didn’t even have formal education or training.

“Base din po sa ating coordination with Philippine Dental Association and Professional Regulatory Commission, wala pong license or wala pong formal education or training at hindi rin po dentist ang suspect. So hindi po talaga siya authorized na mag-offer or mag-engage sa mga dental services po, lalong-lalo na online,” PCapt. Arancillo said

[“Based on our consultation with the Philippine Dental Association and Professional Regulatory Commission, the suspect has no license or no formal education or training, and the suspect is not a dentist. So, she’s not authorized to offer or engage in dental services, especially online.”]

PCapt. Aranccillo also revealed that the suspect reportedly learned dental procedures through online content.

“According din po sa operatives natin, natutunan niya lang po yung DIY braces installation and tooth cleaning po ng mga dental services through online videos po and sa mga nababasa niya lang din online,” she said

[“According to our operatives, she learned DIY braces installation and tooth cleaning through online videos and what she read online.”]

Aside from the affordable braces, she also offers tooth whitening and denture installation.

“Nag-umpisa po yung ating entrapment operation sa isinagawang proactive cyber patrolling ng Iloilo City Cyber Response Team na kung saan nakita po natin yung post ng suspect na nag-aalok at nag-eengage po sa mga Do-It-Yourself braces for P3,000 and for removal naman po ng mga braces ay P1,500,” PCapt. Arancillo explained

[“Our entrapment operations began during proactive cyber patrolling by the Iloilo City Cyber Response Team, when we spotted the suspect’s post offering and engaging Do-It-Yourself braces for Php3,000 and for removal of braces worth P1,500.”]

The suspect faces charges for violating the Philippine Dental Act of 2007, which carries penalties of up to 5 years of imprisonment and fines ranging from P200,000 to P500,000.

The PNP-ACG urged the public to consult only legitimate dental clinics and verify whether practitioners hold valid credentials before seeking dental care.

With reports from Lea Ylagan