MANILA, Philippines – A 22-year old male individual was nabbed in Pasay City allegedly for selling fake medical certificates and using the name of a licensed doctor in the document.  

According to  PLt. Wallen Arancillo, Spokesperson of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), “Jay,” not his real name, sells the medical certificates on social media for P200.00 and even personally delivers it to his clients. 

Investigation also revealed that the suspect is in a relationship with the doctor identified in the medical certificates. 

As a rule, a patient has to be personally checked by an attending physician before a medical certificate is issued but in this case, certificates are being released, much more sold to clients without physical examination. 

“Online nag-i-issue ng medical certificate… Sealed ito at signed niya rin ang mga dokumentong ito… Itong mga binibigyan niya o ini-issuehan niya ng medical certificate ay hindi talagang nakapunta doon sa mismong clinic para mag-undergo ng laboratory or any examination,” Arancillo said. 

The report further said the suspect is jobless and in dire need of money. Authorities are still looking into the possibility of an “inside job’ since the suspect and the girlfriend know the victimized doctor. 

“Inaalam pa natin kung paano siya nagkaroon ng medical certificate. Yung mismong pangalan ng mga biktima niya ay handwritten so sinusulat lang niya ang pangalan… Nakita din natin na connected sa personnel o staff ng doktor ang suspek,” Arancilla said. 

Arancilla then urged the public to be more wary of such scams. 

“Tingnan natin ang personnel natin para maiwasan natin mabiktima ng ganitong klaseng scam,” he said. 

Medical certificates serve as documentary proof of a person’s state of health signaling a patient’s fitness for work or travel. Employers, schools, courts, government agencies rely on medical certificates to validate claims of illness, disability, or other health-related matters. 

Now under Pasay City Police Custody, the suspect is facing charges for violations of the  Revised Penal Code or False Medical Certificates and False Certificates of Merits or Service, Cybercrime Prevention Act and Computer-related Identity Theft.