Published July 12, 2021, 12:41 PM
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Monday, July 12, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to provide assistance in the probe on the reported missing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines which were allegedly brought to a private house in Northern Samar.
“The NBI has a standing order from the DOJ (Department of Justice) to investigate the sale or administration of COVID-19 vaccines outside the authorized channels of distribution,” he said.
“It will be ready to assist the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the provincial board of Northern Samar in any investigation of the subject incident,” he added.
(AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested three individuals, including a registered nurse, for selling COVID-19 vaccines last week.
In his press briefing on Monday, July 5, Roque said the government is committed to punishing the people behind the scheme.
“The government will go all out in investigating kung sino po ang nasa likod ng bentahang ito kasi hindi po binibenta ang mga bakuna (who are the people behind this sale because these vaccines should not be sold),” he said.
“Hindi po tayo papayag na nanakawin ang bakuna para magkaroon ng pera ang iba (We cannot let these vaccines get stolen just so some people can make a profit of them),” he added.
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Published July 4, 2021, 1:24 PM
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra (2)
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Sunday, July 4, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will relentlessly pursue and apprehend those illegally selling coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
The assurance was made by Guevarra after the NBI’s Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) arrested in Manila last June 30 three persons caught illegally selling COVID-19 vaccines. “The NBI is probing more deeply to find out the sources of the vaccines illegally sold and determine who else, if any, are involved,” he said.
“The possible sale of vaccination slots is also included in the NBI’s investigation, as this is precisely the original scope of my directive to the NBI,” he added.
Published July 3, 2021, 12:05 PM
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has condemned in the strongest terms the reported illegal selling of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines which could place the country’s immunization program in jeopardy.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. attends President Duterte’s “Talk to the Nation” address on May 10, 2021. (Screenshot from RTVM Facebook live)
Galvez said the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, which he leads as its chief implementer, has coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Intelligence Unit, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to run after individuals who are connected with the illegal activity.