“Nagbibigay-pugay po ang presidente sa ginawa ng PSG. Sinugal po nila ang kanilang buhay para bigyan ng proteksiyon ang ating Presidente (The president is honoring the PSG’s action. They risked their lives to give protection to our president),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque relayed.
“I dont think it was a mistake to protect the president… Kung may kaso (If there’s a case), let the cases be filed and let them proceed,” Roque challenged.
Roque assured that they are not hiding anything and that there is a probe being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Itigil na po ang pulitika. Alam naman po natin na walang tigil, lagi na lang itong ginagamit ng mga kalaban ng gobyerno (Let us stop politicking. We know that the opposition won’t stop at anything and is always using this),” he urged.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also explained that it is not their intention to violate the law.
“Ang kanilang ginawa ay ang pagsusulong ng kanilang mandato nga na siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng pangulo (What they did was to pursue their mandate to ensure the safety of the president),” AFP Spokesperson MGen. Edgard Arevalo explained.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said it does not want to preempt the result of the investigation regarding the incident but warned medical practitioners who administered the unauthorized vaccines.
“Makikipag-ugnayan po ang DOH sa Professional Regulation Commission para tingnan kung ano po ba ang mga kakalabasan ng investigation kung sino po ba ang mananagot, depende sa imbestigasyon ng FDA (The DOH will coordinate with the Professional Regulation Commission to determine who will be held accountable, depending on the FDA investigation),” DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III cautioned.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has already directed the NBI to investigate the reported importation, sale, distribution, and use of unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine in the country. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
