Man arrested for selling fake vaccination cards in Cebu

CEBU CITY — Police arrested a man for allegedly selling fake vaccination cards in this city on Monday, August 30.

Clifford Arcilla, 46, was collared inside a printing shop in Sanciangko Street in downtown Cebu City where the fake vaccination cards were being created and sold to customers.

Police Lt. Albe Codilla, deputy chief administration for Cebu City Police Office Station 5, said they received a tip about the illegal printing of vaccination cards for sale.

Codilla said that they were able to validate the claims of the tipster and set up an entrapment operation.

The undercover policeman was offered the fake vaccination card when they went to the site. He was also told to fill up some forms and pay P450. The card was done within an hour.

When the undercover policeman went back, the vaccination card was already done. The policemen immediately arrested Arcilla.

Codilla said the suspect will be charged with falsification of documents.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, one of the city officials in the forefront of the vaccination program, went to the police station after learning about the arrest.

Tumulak told reporters that the card being faked by the shop is that of the vaccination cards from Mandaue City. He said they will coordinate with the neighboring city to further strengthen the case.

Tumulak admitted that it is still difficult to verify vaccination cards as of this time because many of the cards still do not have security codes or QR codes.

He said they will monitor all printing shops in the city to prevent similar incidents.