Mayor Emi asks City Council to pass ordinance penalizing COVID-19 vaccine sellers
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano urged the City Council on Wednesday, May 26, to pass an ordinance that will penalize those who are reportedly selling COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination slots.
Rubiano said asking the City Council to immediately enact an ordinance was in response to the call of Malacanang for local government units to have legal basis in penalizing those who are behind the scheme of selling COVID-19 vaccines and slots.
She said the selling of vaccines is against the government’s policy of ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines.
“Talaga naman pong bawal ito kaya dapat mabigyan ng karampatang parusa ang sino man ang gagawa ng ganyang iligal na gawain,” (It is really prohibited and necessary to penalize those behind this,” Rubiano said.
The mayor said the city government has not received any complaint on the selling of vaccines or offering of slots.
She urged city residents to report immediately to the city’s COVID-19 hotline numbers if they are approached or if they received a call from any unscrupulous individuals or groups engaged in the illegal activity.
The scheme was first reported in the cities of Paranaque, Mandaluyong, and San Juan.
Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez had announced that the Metro Manila Council (MMC) will convene on Wednesday, May 26, to tackle a uniform ordinance in penalizing those involved in the illegal activity.
Olivarez also confirmed on Monday, May 24, that the MMC is already conducting an investigation to identify the individuals or groups behind the "vaccine for a fee" scheme.