Roque on PSG getting COVID-19 vaccine: Walang bayad, huwag masamain

Malacañang on Tuesday urged the public not to think ill of the unregistered COVID-19 vaccine given to some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), saying it was a donation and hence no public funds were used.

At a news briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was tight-lipped on the specific details regarding the administration of the vaccine to the soldiers that was first bared by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Wala pong bayad ang pagturok sa PSG. Huwag nating masamain dahil para ito sa ikabubuti ng kalusugan ng Presidente,” Roque said.

The vaccine was given to PSG personnel despite an existing law that prohibits “manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising/sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.”

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) director general Eric Domingo said they are already looking into the inoculation of PSG personnel reportedly using unregistered vaccine manufactured by Chinese firm Sinopharm.

Roque, however, maintained that such initiative is legal because the vaccine was a donation and not paid for by the government.

Pressed if he maintains such position considering that the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act prohibits public officials from accepting donations, Roque said the vaccine “is not of much value.” 

Philippine authorities have so far only been able to secure one COVID-19 vaccine supply deal with AstraZeneca, which is good for 2.6 million doses or for one  million people. The deal was funded by the private sector and will only be donated to the Philippine government.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced if not shut down businesses, decimating employment and mass transport, due to the ban on mass gathering and social distancing required to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

As of December 28, 2020, the Philippines has 470,650 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 438,780 recovered while 9,124 died. The number of active COVID-19 cases is at 22,746. --KBK, GMA News