Netizens are baffled and angry after Luis Manzano caught selling overpriced N95 face masks instead of donating it to Taal residents affected by volcano’s ashfall.
Netizens are baffled and angry after Luis Manzano caught selling overpriced N95 face masks instead of donating it to Taal residents affected by volcano’s ashfall.It all started when Manzano responded to one of Bianca Gonzalez’s posts on Twitter on Sunday, January 12, telling her that his shop still sells N95 masks before putting out the link to the online store Lucky and Lulu.
However, several netizens noticed that the price of the masks from Manzano’s online store is relatively higher than those being sold at drugstores.
The son of Deputy Speaker and Batangas Representative Vilma Santos, however, slammed netizens who have accused him of overpricing face masks given the high demand from those seeking to protect themselves from the Taal Volcano ashfall.
Further, Manzano still defended that the masks being sold at his online store are not like the regular ones and are not overpriced.
“These were our suppliers’ prices 15 weeks ago, as well as global prices, so did we hoard ba? Nope! Nagtaas presyo ba? Nope! Did we take advantage of the situation? Nope! Nag-iisip ka ba? Nope,” he said in response to one of his accusers.
Upon seeing this, some netizens on social media are not happy and accused the TV host of taking advantage of the situation.
On Monday, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso said that he will issue show-cause orders against the sellers accused of increasing prices of N95 face masks.
The city mayor said if they failed to explain themselves, their business permits may be revoked for profiteering from a calamity.
The office of Mayor Isko has received complaints regarding the high price of N95 masks amid the ashfall caused by Taal Volcano’s eruption.
On Wednesday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that 12 out of 17 business establishments in Bambang, Manila were charged with alleged profiteering amid the increase of demand for N95 masks following the eruption of Taal Volcano.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said 12 of 17 establishments they visited in Bambang were issued notices of violations for jacking up prices of masks and other medical supplies.
The DTI said the penalty for profiteering ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱2 million, and if the erring establishments are found guilty, Castelo said the DTI can go against them for the highest amount.
Source: Twitter
0 Comments