Drilon: Execs lying to protect those in illegal shipment of COVID-19 vaccines

Government officials are concealing the facts in what Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called an "illegal" inoculation of members of the government using an unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine.

“Nagkakabuhul-buhol na sila sa kakapalusot. They are lying through their teeth in a bid protect those who are principally involved in the illegal shipment of the unauthorized vaccines in the country," Drilon said in a statement on Wednesday.

The opposition senator is not convinced that the Bureau of Customs was not privy as to how the unregistered vaccine entered the country.

"They cannot hide the truth. The truth will come out and we will find their fingerprints all over it. Those who caused the illegal importation and administration of the unauthorized vaccine must be held responsible. Otherwise, the environment of impunity is enhanced," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte claimed on Saturday that some members of the military received shots against COVID-19 from China's Sinopharm despite the fact that the country's Food and Drug Administration has yet to issue an authorization for any vaccine against the novel disease.

Drilon scoffed at Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III's claim that they administered the vaccines themselves.

"Tell that to the marines,” the minority leader said.

Durante said the unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine were donated upon the PSG's request but he did not disclose its source.

Reiterating that the FDA law prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any unregistered health product, Drilon demanded that those involved be prosecuted.

'Bumuo sila ng group chat'

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also expressed frustration over the inoculation mess and the confusing statements of different government agencies.

"Sabi ng IATF mauuna ang mga medical front-liners pero hindi naman ito sinusunod ng Malacañan at ng AFP. Sabi ng FDA at ng Customs iligal yung mga pinasok na vaccine. Sabi naman ni Harry Roque walang nangyaring iligal. Sabi nga sa social media dapat bumuo sila ng group chat para iisa lang ang direksyon nila," he said in a separate statement.

"Nakakalungkot na kahit nariyan na ang vaccine czar na si Charlie Galvez na sa aking paniwala ay may kakayahan at dapat in charge sa vaccine rollout ay kanya-kanyang kilos pa rin at kanya-kanyang magkasalungat na paliwanag sa ligalidad," he added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the unauthorized inoculations.

However, he said it was not a response to the PSG issue or any single case. -NB, GMA News