PNP to probe if vaccine for slot sale has LGU links

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it will also investigate whether Kyle Bonifacio, who is allegedly involved in the illegal selling of vaccine slots, has links to local government units. 

"That is what we are looking at because actually he did not say that but as long as it is not his confession, we consider that as a hearsay or just an information for us to validate and look for pieces of evidence to corroborate or make it as basis," PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar told reporters in mixed Filipino and English after the launch of QR code system in the police force.

He was asked if police will probe if Bonifacio, whose father is a village councilor, has links with the local government unit.

"In our investigation, we are looking into all the angles because any angle is possible but what we are saying is that at the end of the day, evidence will prevail. If we don't have evidence, we won't file a case but if we have proof then let's file a case," the country's top cop added.

Only a facilitator

On the other hand, Eleazar clarified that Bonifacio was only a "facilitator" and did not personally sell vaccine slots. The suspect also received rewards, Eleazar added.

"He did not sell those slots but he only facilitated and then based on what he said, he received rewards because of that," Eleazar said in Filipino.

For now, Eleazar said they are still gathering evidence before filing the appropriate complaints against the suspect.

Police investigators will also check whether Bonifacio has accomplices and groups in the reported vaccine slot for sale, he added.

"For him to facilitate, and have it approved, he has a connection but that is something that we have to check. He did not publicly post it, meaning it is merely a personal message to his clients. We don't know if these are groups or syndicates but once we prove that, then there is still a violation and Bonifacio will need to face that," the PNP chief pointed out, partly in Filipino.

In addition, Eleazar said they are still determining whether the illicit sale of inoculation slots is only a scam, citing that they are still pursuing the investigation to further clarify the reports.

"This is the point, anybody can just say anything like they got offered a slot about this. Second, we want to know if the vaccination really happened," Eleazar said in Filipino.

On Wednesday, Bonifacio yielded to authorities for his supposed involvement in the illegal activity. Officials said Bonifacio's father informed them of the surrender.

Bonifacio also denied his father's links in the illicit sale of vaccine slots but did not disclose his accomplices in the illegal act. 

Prior to this, Bonifacio's former classmate informed authorities of screenshots of their online exchange regarding the selling of vaccine slots. Bonifacio allegedly offered his classmate a slot to get injected with Pfizer COVID-19 jabs. — RSJ, GMA News