The suspect in the reported vaccine slot sale has been released from Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) custody today (May 27), but authorities assured that their investigation into the matter will push through.
According to PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, suspect Cyle Cedric Bonifacio, the son of a Mandaluyong City barangay councilor, was temporarily released after he filed an affidavit.
“The police works based on evidence. So kung magpa-file tayo ng kaso diyan, dapat mayroon tayong ebidensya dahil lahat naman ay may due process na dapat pagdaanan,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar said they are considering all angles in the investigation, including the alleged connection to the local government unit (LGU) of Mandaluyong.
“Kung mayroon mang involved diyan, malalaman natin. Pero sa ngayon, we don’t want to implicate dahil wala pa naman tayong ebidensya kung mayroon talaga silang kakuntsaba sa mga LGU,” he said.
The police chief said Bonifacio admitted that he received a reward for facilitating the inoculation of some individuals. The suspect, however, denied allegations that he is involved in the alleged vaccine slot sale.
“Inamin niya rin naman ‘yun eh, pati na rin ‘yung kanyang kinontak na supposed to be mga customer na mga legitimate businessmen naman na nag-alangan at lumutang din,” he said.
“Sa kanya mismo nanggaling na hindi nag-materialize ‘yung sina Mr. Abaya, pero may sinasabi siya na talagang na-facilitate niya na makakuha ng slot at ‘yun ang inaalam natin,” he added.
Malacañang reiterated on Thursday that all COVID-19 vaccines being used in the country do not yet have commercial use authorization, which makes the sale of COVID-19 vaccines illegal.
The “vaccine for sale” controversy in Mandaluyong and San Juan emerged after several individuals shared on social media that they were offered slots in exchange for P12,000 to P15,000. – Report from Ryan Lesigues/AG-jlo
Watch full report from Ryan Lesigues:
