2 Vietnamese nabbed for alleged cosmetic surgery practice sans licenses

Authorities arrest two Vietnamese individuals for practicing cosmetic surgery without licenses at a beauty salon in Bel-Air Village, Makati City on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Photo from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group)

MANILA, Philippines — Two Vietnamese individuals were arrested for allegedly practicing cosmetic surgery without a license, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The arrests were the result of an entrapment operation last Monday at a beauty salon in Salcedo Village Makati City,  CIDG National Capital Region  Director Col. Marlon Quimno said in an interview with reporters in Camp Crame on Wednesday.

“They have many clients for whom they do nose lifts, Korean fillers, cosmetic surgeries. Most of their clients are women,” quimno said in Filipino.

READ: 2 Chinese nationals nabbed for practicing medicine without license

The foreigners were conducting procedures “without permit or license nor registration with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC),” the CIDG further detailed in a statement earlier on Wednesday.

Police identified the suspects as Vietnamese man Phuong, 37,  and Vietnamese woman Nguyen, 25.

“We had one complainant who approached our office to complain that a prior procedure did not have a good result. That’s why she reported it to us,” Quimno explained.

The CIDG-NCR chief added that, prior to the operation, they coordinated with the Philippine Medical Association to ascertain that the suspects were not legitimate doctors.

He also said authorities are now coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration regarding the foreigners’ travel and work documents.

According to Quimno, the suspects are under the custody of the CIDG-NCR, awaiting a case for violating Republic Act 4224 or the Medical Act./dl