Law enforcers are intensifying monitoring measures to ensure that fake vaccines will not enter the Philippines amid government preparations for the upcoming vaccine rollout.
The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), intelligence groups, and other national operations support units have been ordered to form an operating team to be on the lookout out for possible entry and sale of bogus vaccines.
PNP Spokesperson BGen. Ildebrandi Usana said they have not detected such incidents yet but assured preparedness to respond if there will be any.
“Sa black market po ito nangyayari (This happens in the black market). Ibig sabihin (This means), they have connections right away,” Usana disclosed.
“And ‘yung mga middlemen nila sila ‘yung mga responsible for selling doon sa street level itong mga vaccines na po ito (Their middlemen are responsible for selling these vaccines in street level),” Usana added.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) which is in charge of the initial processing of vaccines upon arrival is now coordinating with manufacturers for safety markers of vaccines.
The BOC emphasized the participation of the police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) amid the possibility of manufacturing fake vaccines in the country.
The customs bureau denied the reported shipment of vaccines on Thursday. The district collector of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said there was no notice on the arrival of any vaccines. – Report from Bea Bernardo
