Suspect in illegal sale of vaccine slots released, with no charges filed

Kyle Bonifacio, suspect in the vaccine slot for sale scheme was presented by MMDA chair Benhur Abalos and Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos. Screengrab from Radyo Inquirer video.

MANILA, Philippines — The suspect allegedly involved in the illegal sale of vaccines and vaccination slots has been released by police after surrendering to the Metro Manila Development Authority of the Philippines (MMDA) on Wednesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Thursday.

Eleazar said no charges has been also filed against suspect Kyle Bonifacio, due to lack of evidence.

“Kung meron mang involved diyan, malalaman natin pero sa ngayon we do not want to pass judgment or mag-implicate dahil wala pa naman tayong ebidensiya kung meron talaga silang kakuntiyaba sa LGU (local government unit),” the police chief said.

(If anyone is involved in that, we will know but for now we don’t want to pass judgment or implicate them because we still don’t have evidence if they really have any accomplices in the LGU.)

“At the end of the day, evidence will prevail. Kung walang ebidensiya, wala tayong kaso. Pero kung may ebidensiya, ay meron tayong ifa-file na kaso (without evidence, we have no case. But if there is evidence, we can file a case),” he added.

According to Eleazar, Bonifacio is the same person first identified during the PNP’s initial investigation of the vaccine-for-sale and vaccine slot-for-sale scheme.

In its initial investigation, the PNP revealed that Bonifacio offered his high school friend two brands of COVID-19 vaccines, priced at P12,000 to P15,500, depending on the brand, through an online messaging app.

Eleazar clarified that Bonifacio has not been arrested yet and was allowed to go home after he voluntarily gave himself up to MMDA and Mandaluyong Mayor Menchi Abalos on Wednesday.

“Wala pa rin tayong na-file pang kaso sa kanya, kasi nga hindi pa siya arrested eh,” Eleazar said in a press briefing.

(We still haven’t filed a case against him, because he hasn’t been arrested yet.)

“Kasi pag naaresto mo meron ka lang reglementary period to file a case against them, and ito naman mga minor infractions only, minor infraction in the sense na yung sanction nila is minor lang,” he added.

(Once we make an arrest, we only have a reglementary period within which to file a case, and these are minor infractions only, minor in the sense that their sanction is only minor.)

Eleazar, however, assured that they already have information on what charges may be filed against him.

“But we already have information para dun sa kaso na ifa-file natin sa kanya (for the case we can file against him),” said Eleazar.

Bonifacio earlier denied the allegations that he was selling COVID-19 vaccines, which are not for commercial sale, having been procured by government and given to the public under an emergency use authorization (EUA). No coronavirus vaccine in the world has been approved for commercial release.

The suspect, however, admitted that he was merely facilitating vaccine sale deals for which he would get a “reward”, Eleazar said.

“May sinasabi siya na talagang na-facilitate niya na makakuha ng slot, ‘yun ang inaalam natin (He admitted that he facilitated someone to get a slot, that’s what we’re investigating),” the police chief said.

“Based dun sa sinasabi niya nga nakatanggap siya ng pabuya because of that (Based on what he was saying, he received a reward because of that.),” he added.

Eleazar said that the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of NCR and Mandaluyong are currently on top of the investigation.

EDV