By Pearl Gumapos
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar has tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on May 22 to lead the probe on the “under the table” sale of government-purchased COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination slots.
This follows viral social media posts showing the local government unit (LGU) of Mandaluyong and San Juan selling COVID-19 vaccines.
According to one citizen alias “Norman,” the Pfizer vaccine was offered to him for the price of P15,000, while an AstraZeneca vaccine slot was being sold for 10,000.
Mandaluyong LGU. This was really insulting to me as a taxpayer and a businessman. May kita sila 12k~15k per vaccine pero taxes natin ang pinuhunan. These vaccines should go to people who need them the most. pic.twitter.com/5FEUqGwn1o
— Norman Rabaýa (@NormanRabaya) May 21, 2021
“Tutugisin natin para panagutin sa batas ang mga pasimuno at gumagawa ng ganitong modus. As per directive of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año, I have ordered the CIDG to identify and arrest the person or persons behind these scams. Inatasan din natin ang CIDG na makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga LGU,” Eleazar said in a PNP press release.
Eleazar said that the selling of COVID-19 vaccines granted the emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was illegal as the FDA did not yet approve the marketing or sale of any of the vaccines.
“Nananatiling bawal ang pagbebenta ng mga bakuna kontra COVID dito sa atin, ayon na rin sa advisory ng FDA at ng National Task Force against COVID-19,” he said.
According to reports that the PNP received, Eleazar said the vaccination slots are being offered in various areas for a price ranging from P10,000 to P15,000, depending on the vaccine brand.
“Merong espesyal na lugar sa impiyerno ang mga ganitong uri ng tao pero ngayon pa lang, gagawin natin ang lahat para mapanagot sila sa kalokohang ito,” he said.
“Ang mga bakuna ay donasyon at binili ng ating pamahalaan para ibigay ng libre sa ating mga kababayan. Ibayong hirap ang pinag-daanan natin para makakuha tayo ng bakuna laban sa COVID kaya hindi katanggap-tanggap na pagkakitaan ito,” he added.
Eleazar assured the public that they do not have to pay a single centavo for the vaccination.
He added that all civilians have to do is to have themselves registered and wait for their turn to be vaccinated, because there is a priority list that is being followed by the national government.
Furthermore, Eleazar urged the public to let authorities know of any person selling COVID-19 vaccines or vaccination slots.
Meanwhile, Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita Abalos said in a statement that the city of Mandaluyong condemns the reprehensible and downright illegal acts.
“I have directed the Chief of the Mandaluyong City PNP to coordinate with the NBI’s cyber crime division for an immediate and thorough investigation of the matter. Anyone caught selling vaccines or vaccine slots to the public shall be charged in court. Even those spreading misinformation, should these reports turn out to be false, shall be held liable,” she said.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said that whoever is claiming to have contact within the San Juan City LGU to sell the vaccine slots is propagating a scam which members of the San Juan City vaccination team is not part of.
“This is a scam to defraud people of money for something that the government is offering for free to its citizens…We would like to reiterate that the vaccination program in San Juan City is free for residents and qualified individuals according to the guidelines provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF),” he said. -rir
