Gov’t probes suspected ‘sabotage’ of immunization drive

NTF official Vince Dizon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

Government officials are looking into a possible “sabotage” of its mass immunization drive against COVID-19 after huge crowds turned up on several vaccination sites and caused chaos a day before Metro Manila reverted to the strictest lockdown.

Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF), said the panel would investigate information that people were brought to the vaccination sites in buses and vans to disrupt the inoculation efforts.

It came amid the spread of rumors that people would be asked for proof of vaccination before they could receive government cash aid or be allowed to go out to get essential goods during the two-week enhanced community quarantine period in Metro Manila.

Dizon said Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the NTF, received reports about the possible move to undermine the vaccination program.

“We received unverified reports, which we need to investigate, that there are bad elements that deliberately sabotaged the vaccination sites, especially those in malls in Las Piñas, Antipolo, Manila and other areas,” Dizon said at the Laging Handa briefing.

“This will be investigated by the (NTF) under the leadership of Secretary Galvez and with the help of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government),” he added.

He urged the public not to fall for claims like these, which he said were meant to create trouble and make sure the government’s vaccination drive would not be effective.

Jonathan Malaya, undersecretary of the DILG, said officials were taking the issue seriously as he echoed Dizon’s concern that the deluge of people at vaccination sites could have been orchestrated.

“We are taking this very seriously because this is a serious threat not only to public health but also to our national security,” he said.

He said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año directed the anticybercrime group and other relevant units of the Philippine National Police to determine the source of fake news about the vaccination drive.

The National Bureau of Investigation has been asked to join the probe, he said.

Claims about the strict vaccination requirement came after President Duterte said unvaccinated people should remain at home and would be escorted back to their houses if they go out.

But the Palace later stressed that vaccination was not a requirement to get cash aid or to go out for essential goods.

It also said fake news spreaders, and not the President’s pronouncements, should be blamed for the confusion.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ vaccination drive set a new record when it was able to administer 710,000 doses in a single day, according to the NTF.

Dizon said the new daily jab record was set on Thursday, the day before Metro Manila was placed on lockdown.