BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte — A 26-year-old woman posing as a dentist was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 13 (RACU-13) on January 26, 2026, authorities confirmed.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Rose,” was apprehended at around 4:40 p.m. in Butuan City after law enforcers discovered she was offering and providing dental services without a valid license. Police said the illegal practice was facilitated through online platforms, prompting the cybercrime unit to carry out the operation.
“Rose” is now facing charges for violating Section 33(a) of Republic Act No. 9484, or the Philippine Dental Act of 2007, which penalizes the unauthorized practice of dentistry. The case is compounded by a violation of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, for the use of information and communications technology in committing the offense.
PBGEN Wilson C. Asueta, Acting Director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, lauded the operatives for the successful arrest and warned the public against seeking professional services from unverified online sources.
“We call on everyone to exercise caution when seeking services online. Engaging with unlicensed practitioners not only violates the law but also endangers the public’s health and safety,” Asueta said.
Authorities stressed that unlicensed dental procedures pose serious health risks, including infections and long-term complications. The PNP urged the public to verify the credentials of health practitioners through proper regulatory bodies and to report suspected illegal practices to authorities.
The suspect remains under police custody as the filing of formal charges is underway.