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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider LOOK: Abalos couple asks NBI to look into 'vaccine for sale' claims

LOOK: Abalos couple asks NBI to look into 'vaccine for sale' claims

Published May 24, 2021 03:56 pm

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos and his wife, Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos have personally sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to get to the bottom of the purported online sale of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines and vaccination priority slots in cities of Mandaluyong and San Juan.

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos and Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos (Manny Llanes / MANILA BULLETIN)

The couple arrived at 1:45 p.m. Monday, May 24 at the NBI office in VTech Tower, Araneta Avenue, Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. They subsequently had a meeting with NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor.

"We are very thankful to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and NBI Director Distor for heeding our appeal to conduct a thorough investigation on 'bakuna for sale'. We already have a lead but we cannot divulge further details," Chairman Abalos said.

The NBI Cybercrime Division will form a 50-man team to probe the incident. Likewise, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will also help in the investigation of the matter.

“We are doing this to show the public that we are serious about these things. They are taking advantage of the pandemic. I hope that the culprit will be captured the soonest possible time. If the modus operandi is true, the PNP and NBI would be filing charges against individuals behind the bakuna for sale. They could be slapped with estafa or bribery,” he said.

The MMDA chief warned that those who bought the vaccine slots would also be sued. "They are principal by inducement. If proven to be a scammer, he/she will be charged of violation of the Bayanihan Act.”

Over the weekend, Mayor Abalos ordered Mandaluyong police to look into the veracity of the reported online peddling of COVID-19 jabs and the priority slots in the government’s mass inoculation program.

NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor (left) meets with the Abalos couple. (Photo from the MMDA)

“We strongly condemn this illegal selling of our COVID-19 vaccines. All of the vaccines, regardless of the brand, is given free to all Mandaleños, and even those living outside Mandaluyong but are working in the city are also entitled to free vaccines, " she said.

She categorically stated that the city government doesn't sell COVID-19 vaccines or vaccination slots to anyone.

Chairman Abalos works closely with Metro Manila mayors in his capacity as MMDA chief. The Metro Manila Council (MMC), which is composed of the 17 mayors of the National Capital Region (NCR), serves as the policy-making body of the MMDA.

He is himself a former Mandaluyong mayor.

Related Tags

NBI Abalos MMDA distor menchie priority slots vaccine for sale benhur
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