By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Four persons were arrested in an entrapment operation at Boloc Boloc, Sibulan, Negros Oriental Thursday for allegedly selling overpriced face masks.

Local authorities are strictly monitoring the hoarding and overpricing of basic necessities amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the province led the operation against Roseshel Bartolata, 24, and Neil Bryan Bartolata, 24, both of Amlan town; and Junrey Sido, 23, and Mark Clifford John Sido, 20, both residents of Tanjay City.

The operation was in coordination with Sibulan Municipal Police Station, Highway Patrol Group, and 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company.

The suspects were allegedly caught selling ordinary face masks for P130 each, based on the report of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo).

Police recovered during the operation 1,000 face masks without specifications, P500 used as entrapment money, brown envelope, three cellular phones, and P125,000 fake money.

The suspects are now in the custody of CIDG-Negros Oriental and will be facing charges for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 7581 or The Price Act.