NBI would investigate unauthorized COVID-19 inoculations using unregistered vaccines
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday had ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the unauthorized inoculations using unregistered vaccines.
This, as Guevarra said that he had instructed NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor to investigate on Monday, a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that several Filipino soldiers had been vaccinated.
In a message to reporters, Guevarra on Wednesday said that the order wasn’t a response to the PSG issue or any single case.
“This is a general instruction. Not zeroing in on the PSG or on any particular incident of unauthorized vaccination,” Guevarra said.
Guevarra also said that investigators would look into possible violations of Republic Act No. 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act), Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act), and the Medical Practice Act, among others.
READ ALSO: Donated Vaccines Should Still Be Registered, Says FDA Chief
The vaccination of the Presidential Security Group took place even despite the absence of a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the Philippines.
PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III defended his unit’s action and said that it was the PSG’s duty to protect the President.
Durante also said that the PSG acquired the COVID-19 vaccines for free, but he didn’t disclose the source of the said vaccines.
Even Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that he didn’t know how the vaccines got into the Philippines.
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Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza said the Presidential Security Group’s vaccines were “smuggled” in.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the COVID-19 vaccines should still need to be registered in the Philippines even if these vaccines were donated.
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