Amid persistent reports that fake vaccines for Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) are being sold and and are being administered in some parts of the country, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, Feb 18, to exercise extra vigilance to arrest groups selling or administering fake doses for the virus.
The order came after Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto posted on Twitter a picture of supposedly fake Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines and warned the public not to purchase them. There were also reports that fake COVID-19 vaccines are being circulated in the market as the demand for vaccination increases.
DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Bernardo C. Florece, Jr. pointed out that errant groups have taken advantage of the pandemic and are now engaged in transactions involving fake COVID-19 vaccines.
“I am directing the PNP to arrest these criminals and ensure that these bogus vaccines are taken off the market,” Florece said.
He insisted the PNP must work double time in “making certain that no bogus coronavirus vaccines are sold to unsuspecting people.’’
Florece noted that all possible areas such as air and sea ports where illegal supplies of fake coronavirus vaccines may enter the country must be properly and strictly monitored by the PNP Aviation Security Group and Maritime Group, among others.