Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered on Thursday night, June 10, a thorough review of the cases that were filed against Nina Elaine Dizon-Cabrera in connection with the vaccine/vaccine slot for sale controversy.
This, as the cases filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) went viral after Dizon-Cabrera, chief executive officer of a make-up brand, cried foul over what she said was a mistake on the part of the PNP on her inclusion on the charge sheet.
She said she was surprised that she was among the three people charged, arguing that she was even the one who exposed the modus in her social media accounts.
Eleazar said he just learned about the statements made by Dizon-Cabrera late this afternoon and immediately called up the directors of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to explain.
“I personally read the statements made by Ms Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera in the social media and was made aware of her television interview wherein she aired her side regarding the issue of the sale of vaccination/vaccination slots,” said in a statement.
“It is in this regard that I ordered both the Directors of the CIDG and the ACG to review the cases that were filed against her before the Mandaluyong Prosecutor’s Office in order to check if there were lapses in the conduct of investigation and in the preparation of the cases,” he added.
Aside from Dizon-Cabrera, also charged were Cyle Cedric Bonifacio, a son of a barangay official in Mandaluyong City; and Melvin Gutierrez, a volunteer fireman whom Bonifacio identified as his contact at the Madaluyong City Hall who could provide the vaccine and arrange the vaccine slot.
The vaccine/vaccine slot for sale issue became controversial after one of the netizens posted his conversation with Bonifacio who was then asking for P12,000 to P15,500 in exchange for the vaccine and vaccine slot. The price range depends on the brand.
Eleazar immediately tasked the CIDG and ACG to conduct investigation and file charges against those involved. The order forced Bonifacio to surrender and later squealed the name of Gutierrez.
The CIDG, however, included Dizon-Cabrera in the charge sheet for allegedly offering 50 to 100 vaccine slots in her social media accounts, a claim disputed by her.
“I assure Ms Dizon-Cabera that I will personally monitor the progress of my order—and to correct if there are things that need correcting in the interest of truth and justice regarding this ‘vaccine/vaccine slot for sale’ controversy,” said Eleazar.