Mandaluyong City Public Information Office (PIO) head and Chief of Staff Jimmy Isidro said on Friday that no employee of the city hall or a member of the vaccination team is involved in the alleged vaccine for a fee scheme.
Isidro made the statement following reports that an employee of the city government was involved in the scheme.
"Walang involved na local government official or staff ng city hall ng Mandaluyong, at yung sinasabing tao na iniimbestigahan nila, hindi po sya member ng aming vaccination team, or ng barangay. Iimbestigahan pa ng pulis (No official of the city hall is involved and the person they're saying who is being investigated is not a member of the vaccination team nor of the barangay)." Isidro said in an interview with DZMM.
"Dinedeny po namin yung report na lumabas dun sa isang dyaryo na meron daw staff ng local government or ng city government. Wala pong katotohanan yun. (We are denying the report published in a newspaper that there's a staff of the local government or city government involved. That's not true)." he added.
The alleged vaccine for a fee scheme involved people asking for payment from residents so they can be added to the list of vaccinees in the city.
Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos had previously said that the vaccines being administered to the public and the registration for the city's vaccination program are all for free.
“Libre po ang lahat ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 na ibinibigay sa lahat ng residente at hindi residente ng lungsod na nagtatrabaho sa Mandaluyong. Magparehistro lang po kayo sa MANDAVAX. Wala po itong bayad. Ang MANDAVAX po ang pinagbabatayan natin para sa iskedyul ng mababakunahan (All COVID-19 vaccines being given to all residents and non-residents but working here in Mandaluyong are free. Just register with MANDAVAX for free because this is where we base the schedule of vaccination).” Abalos said.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/21/mandaluyong-residents-urged-to-get-vaccinated-report-persons-asking-payment-for-vaccination-slots/
Last May 26, Kyle Bonifacio, the suspect in the alleged scheme, surrendered to Mayor Abalos and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos.
Bonifacio claimed that he was innocent and not in cahoots with any official or employee of the local government of any city.
“Wala po akong connection sa LGU (local government unit) dahil isa lang po akong batang estudyante (I have no connection with the LGU because I am just a student),” he said.
He refused to answer questions from the media, invoking his right to remain silent.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/26/suspect-in-bakuna-for-sale-scheme-surrenders/