The National Task Force Against COVID-19 will conduct an investigation of the alleged initiative to “sabotage” the government’s vaccination drive.
NTF deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon made the statement a day after a sea of people flocked to various vaccination sites in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
In public briefing on Friday, Aug. 6, Dizon said that some individuals shared “fake news” saying that people affected by the two-week lockdown in Metro Manila would not receive financial aid if they are unvaccinated.
“We received unverified reports, which we need to investigate, that there are evil elements that intend to sabotage vaccination sites, especially in malls in Las Piñas, Antipolo, Manila and other places,” Dizon said in Filipino.
People trooped to various vaccination sites in Metro Manila on Aug. 5 after reportedly receiving information that those who are not vaccinated would not receive cash aid or be barred from going outside during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in the region.
This led to overcrowding and non-compliance with minimum public health standards, forcing local government units to suspend the schedule of inoculation in some vaccination sites.
Dizon said the government’s task force, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), will investigate such reports.
“Iyan ay iimbestigahan natin ng masisinsinan para malaman natin kung totoo ito at kung sino man ang gumawa nito ay mahuli natin at maparusahan (We will investigate that thoroughly to find out if it is true and whoever did it will be apprehended and punished),” he said.
The testing chief urged the public not to believe fake news shared by people whom, he said, only wants to create chaos and portray the government’s vaccination drive as ineffective.
Vaccination vs Delta variant
Dizon encouraged people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the threat of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant.
“Ang dagdag na panlaban natin ngayon, lalo na sa Delta variant, ay ang pagbabakuna (The added defense that we have today, especially against the Delta variant, is vaccination),” he said.
“Kaya dapat talaga paigtingin natin ang pagbabakuna pero sana naman walang mga kababayan natin na magsasamantala para lang mangulo (So we should really intensify vaccination but hopefully no one will take advantage of the situation and create chaos),” he added.