1 Jan 2021
Government agents smuggled doses of an unapproved Chinese coronavirus vaccine candidate into the Philippines and gave them to President Rodrigo Duterte’s military security detail as early as September, the Philippine defense minister said Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said members of the Philippines’ Presidential Security Group (PSG) obtained early samples of the vaccine candidate in development by the Chinese company Sinopharm at least three months ago without government authorization. He said the president’s security guards received the inoculations in September and October without his knowledge.
When asked by reporters Wednesday if the vaccines were “smuggled” into the Philippines, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana replied: “Yes smuggled, because they were not authorized, only the government can authorize.”
A group claiming to be the sole distributor of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines has denied involvement in the inoculation of military members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) using an unregistered vaccine. “As to the recent distribution of the Sinopharm vaccine undertaken for the benefit of the PSG, MKG was not a part of it,” said "Jose" of MKG Universal Drugs Trading Corporation in a Dobol B sa News TV interview on.
AFP chief orders probe into vaccination of Duterte s security personnel
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31) - Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay has ordered an investigation on the vaccination of some Presidential Security Group members with an unregistered vaccine.
In a statement on Thursday, AFP spokesperson Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo said Gapay wanted a thorough investigation on the factual circumstances surrounding this incident.
The AFP on Monday confirmed President Rodrigo Duterte s close-in security personnel were the first ones among the military to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in a bid to protect the chief executive from infection.
Published on: Thursday, December 31, 2020
By: GMA News
MANILA: Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
(pic) on Wednesday said the Covid-19 vaccines administered to some members of the Presidential Security Group were smuggled because no authorisation was given by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
At the sidelines of the wreath laying ceremony at Rizal Park in Manila on Rizal Day, Lorenzana said the PSG needs to make an explanation on the inoculation of some personnel even it was for protecting President Rodrigo Duterte.
Lorenzana, however, said it was not a breach of security as the intention of the PSG was good.
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Drilon sees cover up in illegal use of unauthorized China-made vaccine
There is a deliberate attempt to cover up the facts of the illegal inoculation of some members of the cabinet, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the military with an unauthorized China-made vaccine Sinopharm, according to Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon. Nagkakabuhul-buhol na sila sa kakapalusot. They are lying through their teeth in a bid protect those who are principally involved in the illegal shipment of the unauthorized vaccines in the country, Drilon said in a statement on Thursday.
Drilon said there is no way the unauthorized vaccines could have entered the country without the Bureau of Customs (BOC) clearance.