No vaccine, no cash aid under ECQ? Fake news, says MMDA chair Abalos

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos on Thursday described as “fake news” the information that people who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 will not receive cash aid under enhanced community quarantine.

In an event in Mandaluyong City, Abalos slammed the perpetrators behind the wrong information after many people panicked and crowded vaccination sites in Metro Manila on Thursday morning.

“Ang sinabi po ba naman na kung wala kang bakuna ay wala kang matatanggap na ayuda. Nag-panic ang mga tao. Nagpuntahan ng umaga sa mga vaccination center. Nagkagulo,” he said.

(They said that if you are not vaccinated, you will not receive cash assistance. The people panicked. They rushed to vaccination centers in the morning.)

Abalos said he received reports on such incidents in Manila, Masinag in Antipolo City, and Las Piñas.

In a statement, the MMDA said it has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the spread of fake news and misinformation.

Abalos wrote a letter to NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor to probe to identify the sources of the fake news and hold them accountable.

“I am requesting your Bureau to initiate the investigation of the said fake news in order for those persons responsible therefore to be held accountable in causing unruliness at the vaccination sites and thereafter to file the necessary charges against them,” Abalos said in the letter.

On Thursday morning, long lines of people were reported in various COVID-19 vaccination sites in Metro Manila, a day before the two-week enhanced community quarantine period starts.

With the implementation of the ECQ, low-income residents will receive P1,000 to P4,000 cash aid from the national government. —KBK, GMA News