MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has called for an investigation into the Presidential Security Group’s (PSG) unauthorized vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to prevent the public from doing the same.
“Dapat maimbestigahan kasi yun yung mensahe din na hindi natin papalampasin. Kasi kung papalampasin lang, parang ine-encourage yung tao na gumawa ng mali kasi parang walang nangyayari, parang walang sanctions,” Robredo said Sunday in her weekly radio show.
(It should be investigated because that will send a message that we won’t let it slide. If we let this pass, it’s like encouraging the people to do wrongful acts because nothing will happen and there won’t be sanctions.)
Robredo also sought transparency in the incident given that regulators in the country have yet to authorize the use of any vaccine against COVID-19.
“Pero iyong tanong, sino ba iyong mga nakakaalam, sino ba iyong nag-authorize, dapat iyon iyong maging accountable…Sana maging transparent na lang tapos akuin iyong kasalanan,” she said.
(The question is, who knew about this and who authorized it? They should be the ones accountable. I wish they become transparent and just own up to their mistakes.)
The PSG admitted to “requesting” for the COVID-19 vaccines, but refused to disclose their “source.” The PSG said the vaccinations were done as early as September.
Despite fierce criticisms from lawmakers and several groups, Malacañang said there was no violation of the anti-graft law when the PSG received the vaccines because these were only “tokens” and no public funds were used for it.
Meanwhile, both the Department of Justice and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have already ordered investigations into the PSG vaccination.