MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday blamed the “no vaccine, no ayuda (aid)” rumors for the “disorderliness” at some vaccination sites in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Following the ruckus at vaccination sites in Las Piñas and Manila, MMDA chief Benhur Abalos requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to go after the purveyors of misinformation.
“As a consequence of which, then ordinary peaceful and orderly vaccination is now being flocked by individuals thereby causing disarray therein,” Abalos said in the letter addressed to NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor.
“I am requesting your Bureau to initiate the investigation of the said fake news in order for those persons responsible therefore to be held accountable in causing unruliness at the vaccination sites and thereafter to file the necessary charges against them,” Abalos added.
Some 19,000 people flocked to several vaccine sites in Manila on Thursday morning while a similar incident also happened at a Las Piñas vaccine site, a day before the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on Friday.
“Everything was in order until the proliferation of these fake news,” Abalos said in a separate statement. “These misinformation would affect not only the vaccination process and target, but would cause harm to peoples’ lives.”
He also reiterated that the ayuda or cash aid from the government amounting to P1,000 to P4,000 will be given to low-income residents in NCR, regardless if they are vaccinated or not.
“To set the record straight, the distribution of ayuda and/or benefits or privileges is not anchored on whether an individual has been inoculated or not,” Abalos pointed out.