Senators on Tuesday, January 27, raised alarm over the continued sale of counterfeit, unregistered, and unsafe health products online, pressing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), online platforms, and law enforcement agencies to intensify consumer protection efforts.
During a Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senator Raffy Tulfo described the unchecked sale of prescription-only medicines and unregistered products as a serious public health threat.
He revealed that his office was able to buy prescription-only drugs online without presenting a prescription.
“With convenience, one click away din kayo sa panganib,” Tulfo warned, stressing the dangers of self-medication and antibiotic resistance.
Tulfo also flagged fake advertisements and AI-manipulated videos falsely showing endorsements from public figures, misleading consumers and risking lives. He criticized the FDA’s enforcement, citing inefficiency and stalled campaigns like “Oplan Katharos.”
“If seryoso tayo sa consumer protection, hindi pwedeng lusot ang mga content creators na nagpo-promote ng unregistered products,” he said.
FDA Director General Paolo Teston responded, saying the agency does not tolerate corruption.
“Ang presumption ko po lahat sila matuwid so kung mayroon po kayong information dito makikipag-ugnayan po yung opisina ko upang matukoy po nating itong mga tao na ‘to,” he stated, while warning about counterfeit medicines that may cause severe allergic reactions, including fake cancer drugs.
Tulfo further criticized FDA’s delayed response to product recalls, particularly involving Nestlé NAN products, saying advisories should have been issued earlier.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros filed Senate Bill No. 564, the Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products Prevention Act, to address dangers posed by counterfeit and unregulated health products.
She noted that online selling blurs the line between registered and fake products, with sellers misrepresenting legitimacy and even disguising illegal drugs like CBD oil, magic mushrooms, and LSD as “chocolates” or “trading cards.”
Senator Erwin Tulfo urged law enforcement agencies to maximize intelligence funds to monitor online platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and Facebook.
“Just do your job,” he said, stressing that agencies should not wait for new legislation before acting.
The senators collectively called for stronger coordination among regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and online platforms to confront what they described as an urgent public health concern.