SHE IS NO QUACK: Lawyer defends Iloilo clinic owner amid charges

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Atty. Joebert Pahilga, legal counsel for Jessyl Salazar-Faderugao, defended his client against allegations of illegal practice of medicine and estafa, emphasizing that her aesthetic clinic has been operating with full documentation and without complaints for three years.

“We are surprised because the clinic has been operating for three years already and we have not received any complaints. In fact, we have loyal customers there,” Pahilga told Daily Guardian, highlighting the clinic’s solid client base and clean record.

Salazar-Faderugao, who was arrested on August 20 during an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), is accused of presenting herself as an aesthetic doctor despite not being a licensed physician.

According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, Salazar-Faderugao was apprehended after accepting marked money from an undercover client for a Gluta Drip procedure.

When asked for her credentials, she reportedly failed to provide any legitimate documentation.

The NBI said the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) confirmed that Salazar-Faderugao does not hold a Certificate of Registration from the Medical Board Commission, and lacks the necessary license to practice medicine in the Philippines.

Authorities seized various medical devices, surgical tools, and other paraphernalia from her clinic during the operation.

Despite these charges, Pahilga confirmed that Salazar-Faderugao’s clinic remains operational.

“The operation is against the person, not the clinic. That is why the clinic is not affected since it is a separate entity from the person, although the person is the president of the corporation or owns the clinic,” he explained.

Pahilga provided details on Salazar-Faderugao’s educational background, noting that she graduated with a degree in Biological Science from West Visayas State University and completed her postgraduate studies in Medicine at Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine.

He added that she received several certifications and underwent dermatology training in countries such as Singapore, Korea, Spain, and China.

“This is why she is referred to as a doctor, although she did not take the board exam but she went abroad for several years […] She was trained there to do what she is practicing now,” Pahilga stressed.

He also pointed out that the clinic employs licensed medical doctors and registered nurses to ensure that procedures are administered safely.

“According to the medical practitioners that I talked to, it can be administered (glutathione drip) by a non-doctor, provided that she is trained and the amount of dosage is already ready,” he added.

Pahilga emphasized the importance of due process, reiterating that Salazar-Faderugao has the right to submit a counter-affidavit, which her legal team intends to file within the 10-day period granted by the prosecutor.

He urged the public to withhold judgment until the court’s decision is made regarding whether she engaged in the illegal practice of medicine.