Individuals selling vaccination slots will be held accountable, says President Duterte
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the MalacaΓ±ang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in MalacaΓ±ang Park, Manila on May 31, 2021. ROBINSON NIΓAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, May 31, cautioned people selling vaccination slots, noting they may face criminal charges if they continue their illegal activity.
“It has come to the knowledge of everybody sa
Task Force that there are an alleged illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccination slots
in Mandaluyong City,” the President said in his weekly public address on
COVID-19 interventions.
“It is good that Chairman Benhur Abalos ng
MMDA and Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos have acted on this quickly.”
President Duterte reiterated that the
vaccines should be given to people for free, adding that they only need to go
to local vaccination centers for the jabs.
“We will not allow… All vaccines of our
people are given for free, libre ‘yan. Huwag kayong magbayad. Wala kayong
gastusin niyan,” he said. “Selling vaccination slot goes against the principle
of equitable vaccine distribution.”
People could be charged with theft if they
engaged in the sale of slots, while government officials could be charged with violation
of the anti-graft and corrupt practices law.
The chief executive then said that he is
directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine which specific charges
can be use against violators.
Interior and Local Government Secretary
Eduardo AΓ±o noted that people engaged in such activity could be charged with
unauthorized sale of unregistered product since COVID-19 vaccines are being
used under emergency use authorization (EUA), and therefore cannot be
commercialized.
“Mayroon po kaming nakita po ‘yong violation
ng Section 11 ng FDA law or FDA Act, ito po ‘yong unauthorized sale po ng
unregistered product dahil po ‘yong ating vaccine ay under EUA, hindi po ito
puwedeng ibenta o ipagbili,” AΓ±o said.
PND