Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has no problem with the early inoculation of Presidential Security Group (PSG) members from COVID-19, but maintained that the security force should still cooperate with the House of Representatives if needed.
Barbers said he found it "laudable" that some 300 members of the PSG decided to inoculate themselves with the anti-COVID vaccine that had reportedly been donated to them.
"Pabor ako na una sila (PSG) because sila ang frontliner ng Pangulo kaya dapat lang na mauna (I favor them being prioritized because they are the President's frontliners, so it's only proper that they are the first)," said the solon, chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
Despite this, Barbers still expects the PSG to participate in an inquiry – should the House call for it – regarding the circumstances behind the vaccines, which the lawmaker suspects are smuggled goods.
"They should still cooperate if the event the House calls for a probe on the alleged smuggling of vaccines," he said, adding that the supposed smugglers and their cohorts within the Bureau of Customs (BoC) must be held accountable.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that it has yet to approve any anti-COVID vaccine for use in the local drug market. Moreover, it said that Sinopharm – the vaccine brand that the PSG reportedly used – did not apply for clinical trials in the Philippines.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has demanded an explanation from the PSG on the use of the vaccines, but PSG chief Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante has been mum on the issue.
Part of the reason for the public uproar over the PSG inoculation is that as per the government's own plans, indigent Filipinos and frontline healthcare workers were supposed to be first in line with the COVID-19 vaccine.