AN official of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has identified Region III as source of counterfeit drugs still flooding the Ilocos region.

Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, food and drugs regulation officer of the Department of Health in Region I and BFAD officer-in-charge, said most counterfeit drugs seized by his office last year came from Region III or central Luzon.

He noted that it is now public knowledge the region is the origin of most of the counterfeit drugs found in the market.

Jacinto said he learned that the counterfeit drugs are brought to the region by distributors who sell the same to drugstores, especially those located along the national highways from Pangasinan to Ilocos Norte.

Jacinto vowed to zero in on drug distributors and dealers who may be passing the counterfeit medicines to drug stores all over the region, this year.

He also called on drug store owners to stop selling the fake medicines. (PNA)