Police to arrest buyers, sellers of blood plasma

PERSONS found engaged in illegal trading of blood plasma from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) survivors will be arrested, police said Wednesday, August 5, 2020.

Central Visayas Police Regional Office Director Albert Ignatius Ferro directed Wednesday all police station commanders in the region to investigate reports of blood plasma being sold and to arrest those found buying or selling this new commodity.

“I ask every unit commander to find out whether there’s such (a) thing as plasma for sale so that will be able to arrest these people, file criminal cases against these people,” Ferro said.

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that transports nutrients.

Convalescent plasma from Covid-19 survivors has become a “hot” commodity because it is being used as experimental treatment for Covid-19.

Ferro likened the plasma trade to organ trafficking, or the trade of human organs for transplantation.

He warned that both the seller and buyer will be arrested and charged.

Reports of illegal blood plasma trade first came out when some residents of Barangay Luz who have recovered from Covid-19 allegedly sold their plasma instead of donating this.

Ferro said his office has received reports that more Covid-19 survivors are selling their plasma.

He said he has instructed all police personnel in Central Visayas who recovered from Covid-19 to donate their blood as part of their mandate to provide security to the people.

“I’m promoting the donation of plasma so that we will tell the people this gift of life is a gift from God. It’s a God-given gift. It should not be for sale, so we give back all to his glory. So how come you are selling? Nabuhi ka na nga, naka-recover ka na, tapos ibaligya mo pa ‘tong extended life nimo,” Ferro said.

More than 300 police personnel who have recovered from Covid-19 have donated their blood to the Department of Health for possible use in convalescent plasma therapy of patients who are still battling with the disease.

Ferro urged other Covid-19 survivors to also donate their blood and save lives.