Police on why person who exposed vaccine modus was charged: 'Because of tweets'

The businesswoman who helped expose the vaccine-slots-for-sale scam was included in the complaint sheet because of the conversations with the supposed seller she posted on Twitter, a police official said on Thursday. 

According to a report on "24 Oras", Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Moleta said Nina Dizon-Cabrera knew who the seller was.

“Based sa technical investigation na kinonduct ng Anti-Cybercrime Group, nakita po namin du’n na mayroon siyang transaction with someone according to her post in Twitter account,” Moleta said.

[Based on the technical investigation of the Anti-Cybercrime Group, we saw that she had transactions with someone according to her post on Twitter.]

Cabrera in May posted on Twitter a series of screenshots about vaccine slots being sold.

Weeks later one of the supposed sellers gave himself up to the authorities.

The police earlier this week filed complaints against three persons in the alleged scam, including Cabrera.

“Mayroon siyang alam kung sino ang nagbebenta ng mga vaccine slots. ‘Di po kasi ma’am authorized bumili si Ms. Nina ng mga vaccines or vaccine slots,” Moleta said.

[She knew someone who was selling vaccine slots. Ms. Nina is not someone who is authorized to buy vaccines or vaccine slots.]

Cabrera has expressed surprise that the PNP included her in the complaint.

“Wala naman po akong ginawang masama kundi nagsiwalat ako ng isang scam na nangyayari sa vaccination and yet ako pa po ‘yung nadamay dito sa kaso,” Cabrera said.

[I didn’t do anything wrong. I just exposed the scam on the vaccination and yet I’m the one getting dragged into the case.]

“I don’t think anyone in their right minds would be exposing themselves. Parang bakit ko naman ipo-post ‘yun kung ako ‘yung nagbebenta,” she added.

[I don’t think anyone in their right minds would be exposing themselves. Like, why would I post that if I was the one selling?]

Cabrera said she was looking for vaccines for her employees before she exposed the vaccine for slot sale.

“Nung nalaman namin na slot for sale siya, as in sinabi ko, slot naman pala ‘yung binebenta niyo. And then after that, hindi na kami nag initiate ng conversation or ng communication sa seller na ‘yun,” she said.

[When we found out that they were selling slots, we stopped all communication with them.]

She is facing charges for estafa as well as the violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act, Anti-Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Eleazar orders review

In response to Cabrera's statements, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said that he has ordered both the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the ACG to review the charges filed against her "in order to check if there were lapses in the conduct of investigation and in the preparation of the cases."

"I assure Ms. Dizon-Cabera that I will personally monitor the progress of my order—and to correct if there are things that need correcting in the interest of truth and justice regarding this ‘vaccine/vaccine slot for sale’ controversy," he added in a statement.

Cabrera said she was waiting for a copy of the complaint so she could file a reply.

She said she was also thinking of filing counter-charges against those who filed the complaint.

Cabrera stressed that she did not know the other respondents in the case, adding that she did not know anyone from the governments of San Juan and Mandaluyong.

Both local government units have denied sales of vaccine slots in their cities. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB/BM, GMA News