FDA probe on PSG’s unauthorized COVID-19 vaccination to push through

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Wednesday it would push through with its probe on the unauthorized vaccination of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for the latter to keep mum on the issue.

“Kung naalala ko, sabi naman ni Presidente huwag silang mag-attend sa mga congressional hearing at ang FDA po mayroon namang set na proseso kung paano po namin hina-handle at ini-investigate ang complaints at saka reports po na ganito,” FDA director general Eric Domingo said in a briefing.

“Itutuloy naman po namin iyan according to the process laid out by FDA.”

Duterte earlier told the PSG to stay silent on their unauthorized inoculation with a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm Group.

He also threatened lawmakers against investigating the matter: “I hope that we understand each other. I am not the grandstanding type, but do not, I said, force me to do something which is not good. Kung gusto ninyo ng gulo, sige.”

It was Duterte himself who first revealed that some soldiers had received a COVID-19 vaccine even without regulatory approval. He later claimed that he was unaware of the details of the vaccination.

PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III later admitted that it was his unit that received the vaccine.

Domingo then said the FDA would seek more information from the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding the unauthorized vaccination.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the investigations of the FDA and National Bureau of Investigation would still continue despite Duterte’s threat.—AOL, GMA News