(UPDATED) Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar has ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to investigate reports that vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) were being sold.
Eleazar said the reported prevailing price is P10,000 to P15,000, depending on the brand.
He urged the public to immediately report to the police those engaged in this illegal activity.
An image being circulated on social media shows messages from a person offering vaccination slots in a local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila for a price. The person said the vaccine is free, but those who want to get the vaccine but are not eligible yet may get a slot for P12,000 to P15,000.
All Covid-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the Philippines and worldwide are not approved for commercial distribution. Selling these is illegal, Eleazar stressed.
"Merong espesyal na lugar sa impiyerno ang mga ganitong uri ng tao pero ngayon pa lang, gagawin natin ang lahat para mapanagot sila sa kalokohang ito," said Eleazar.
(The people engaged in this activity have a special place in hell. We will do everything to make them answer for their crime.)
Eleazar reminded the public that the vaccines are free. These were either donated or procured by the government.
"Ang mga bakuna ay donasyon at binili ng ating pamahalaan para ibigay ng libre sa ating mga kababayan. Ibayong hirap ang pinagdaanan natin para makakuha tayo ng bakuna laban sa Covid kaya hindi katanggap-tanggap na pagkakitaan ito," he added.
As of May 20, 2021, the Philippines has received a total of 8,279,050 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
Almost four million doses were donated, consisting of one million doses of Sinovac from China, and 2.556 million of AstraZeneca and 193,050 of Pfizer from Covax. The rest were procured by the government.
The government is currently vaccinating Priority Groups A1 (health workers), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities).
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said essential workers (A4) and indigent Filipinos (A5) will be eligible to receive the vaccine in June. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / VoxPop Philippines)