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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mayor Isko wants charges filed vs gov't execs who underwent unauthorized vaccination

Mayor Isko wants charges filed vs gov't execs who underwent unauthorized vaccination

Published Jan 5, 2021 10:10 am

Government officials who underwent unauthorized coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations must be charged, according to Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso. 

Domagoso was reacting to the Presidential Security Group's (PSG) move to administer COVID-19 vaccine without help from a medical professional. 

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier said that the vaccine, reportedly developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, was smuggled because it has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

"If that is already a fact coming from the defense secretary, then there is no need for investigation. Cases should be filed against violators, that is the course of action," Domagoso said in an interview with ANC on Monday. 

"Ang investigation, nagfi-fishing expedition pa tayo (With an investigation, we are still doing a fishing expedition). But if there is an acceptance already of a violation, if there is a violation, then cases should be filed against those violators to simplify everything," he added. 

Domagoso also called for an investigation on the reported unauthorized vaccination activities in Binondo. 

He criticized those who claimed that receiving vaccines that have not secured approval from the FDA is okay. 

"Bawal na bawal 'yan. Walang Presidente, walang Mayor, walang senador na magsasabing hindi pwedeng mag FDA. Hindi po. May batas po. Kaya 'yang mga tolongges na 'yan, pati ilang senador na nagsasabi na hindi kailangan ng FDA, eh kailangan po, huwag natin hikayatin 'yung mga ilegal (That is not allowed. There is no President, no Mayor, no senator who would say that securing the FDA's approval is unnecessary. No. We have laws. Those fools, even some senators, who say that the FDA is not needed, we should not encourage those illegal acts)," he said on Monday.

In defending the PSG, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa recently said that he is willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine that has not been authorized by the Philippine FDA as long as it has secured approval from health authorities from other countries. 

"Pagisipan ko. FDA-approved or hindi, buhay ko ito. Wala akong pakialam diyan sa FDA, kung approved nila o hindi 'yan basta buhay ko nakasalalay (I will think about it. Whether it is FDA-approved or not, this is my life. I do not care if the FDA approves or disapproves it. My life is the one at stake). Ihave to decide for my own life," he said in a radio interview on Saturday.


Domagoso said the PSG may have "a very good reason" for vaccinating themselves, in line with protecting "the interests of the chief executive, the commander-in-chief, in this case, the President."

The PSG earned flak from the public and lawmakers for its unauthorized vaccination.

The incident has warranted investigations from the FDA, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

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