NBI ready to probe alleged unauthorized importation, use of COVID-19 vaccines

The NBI is ready to investigate the alleged unauthorized importation and use of COVID-19 vaccines even as it has yet to receive the written order from the Department of Justice to do so, NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said on Saturday.

"We already have the verbal order from the Secretary. We have yet to receive the written order but we are ready to investigate," Lavin said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"There are already agents on standby in the next few days," he said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the NBI last week to look into unauthorized inoculations against COVID-19 using unregistered vaccines.

Guevarra said he gave the instruction on Monday to NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor.

Two days before that, President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that some Filipino soldiers — they would later turn out to be members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) —  had been vaccinated against COVID-19. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet given the go signal for any COVID-19 vaccine to be used in the Philippines.

"This is a general instruction. Not zeroing in on the PSG or on any particular incident of unauthorized vaccination," Guevarra said in a message to reporters on Wednesday.

"Medyo malawak itong imbestigasyon na gagawin dahil ayon kay Secretary Guevarra, hindi lang kami magli-limit doon sa nangyaring pagpasok—if I may call it unauthorized importation muna, ng vaccines," Lavin said.

"We can only assume na na-import itong vaccines na ito since we do not have the capability to manufacture these vaccines," he said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said the COVID-19 vaccines administered to some members of the PSG were smuggled because no authorization was given by the FDA. 

PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III said the vaccines were donated and he requested such donation.

Lavin said aside from the PSG, the Bureau of Customs and the FDA will also be asked during the investigation.

"Kung in-import ito, titingnan natin. We will reach out to the Bureau of Customs then the FDA kung registered ito o may emergency use authorization. We will also check with the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] or the Department of Health," Lavin added.

"There may already have been instances na pagtuturok. There may have been instances of some importations, authorized or legit. Titingnan natin lahat ito," he said.

Lavin said the NBI will also check with the records of FDA regarding raids it has conducted so far to check on alleged use of unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines.

He also noted the comment of Durante that his men got inoculated against COVID-19 to protect the President.

"The intention is very noble, to protect the President. Kailangan naman talagang protektahan ang Presidente. We will take off from there," he said.

"Una, mag-uumpisa tayo kay General Durante kung anong detalye ang ibibigay niya," he said.

Lavin said "it would be good and the NBI would appreciate it very much if he [Durante] can put it in writing and under oath."

"Then simultaneously we will reach out to the FDA then the Bureau of Customs," he said.

He said there are possible violations in the alleged use and importation of unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines, from the Medical Practice Act to Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, FDA rules under DOH, and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. —KG, GMA News