DILG orders arrest of Fake Covid-19 vaccine sellers

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Department of Interior and Local Government on Thursday, February 18, 2020 ordered the police force to arrest individuals involved in selling fake vaccines.

In a statement made by DILG Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Undersecretary Bernardo C. Florece, he said the department have been receiving reports that fake vaccines are now being sold in the market as demand for vaccination increases.

“Some people are taking advantage of the pandemic to make money by selling fake vaccines. I am directing the PNP to arrest these criminals and ensure that these bogus vaccines are taken off the market,” the Undersecretary said.

“We must be cautious sapagkat ngayon nga ay mayroon nang kaso ng mga pekeng bakuna na mismong si Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto ang nakadiskubre,” he added.

In a recent twitter post, Sotto uploaded photo of an alleged fake Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine with a warning urging the public not to buy said products. The seller in Sotto’s post offered 50 vials of fake Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for P60,000.00.

As part of of PNP’s task to secure COVID-19 vaccines, Florece said they should ensure that fake vaccines will not be sold.

“Hindi kami magugulat kung mayroon pang ibang lulutang na pekeng bakuna. Kaya mahigpit na pagbabantay ang ating inaasahan mula sa PNP, katuwang ang mga pamahalaang lokal,” he said.

Public advised not to buy vaccines on their own

The public are then urged by the official not to buy vaccines being sold to them and to immediately report to PNP and their local officials those engaging in such business.

“Huwag po kayong magpapaloko. Tanging sa pamahalaan lamang po dadaan ang mga lehitimong bakuna at maliban dito ay ireport ninyo po ang mga nagbebenta at nagtuturok ng mga pekeng COVID-19 vaccines,” he said.

Senator Nancy Binay on Thursday likewise told PNP to chase syndicates involved in manufacturing and selling of fake vaccines instead of questioning volunteer teachers in the Lumad community in Mindanao.

“Instead of spending time questioning innocent individuals, pursuing false leads and chasing phantoms, bakit di na lang habulin yung mga sindikatong nagkakalat ng pekeng mga bakuna?” Binay said.

According to the senator, PNP should ‘focus on real threats to public health, and not perceived threats’.