NBI to begin probe on unauthorized entry, use of vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday its probe on the alleged unauthorized importation and use of COVID-19 vaccines in the country would engage various government agencies, but begin with the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

“Our investigation will be wide. We would not only focus on the alleged unauthorized importation of vaccines,” NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said in Filipino in a radio interview.

However, Lavin said the NBI has not yet received a written order from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the investigation on the alleged illegal administration of the COVID-19 vaccine on members of the PSG.

At this point, the NBI official said: “We can only assume.”

If the vaccines were imported, the NBI would be reaching out to the Bureau of Customs (BOC); and if these had registrations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Lavin said.

Likewise, the NBI would have to engage the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in its investigation, he said.

“We do not have a target timeline, but we will have a regular reporting on the progress of the investigation,” he said.

Lavin said that since there are still no persons of interest in its investigation, the NBI would start with PSG commander, Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante.

“It would be better if Durante would be able to submit a written affidavit containing all the details of their COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.

Despite this, Lavin reiterated that the investigation is not focused on the PSG, whose members detailed to the President reportedly administered among themselves the Sinopharm vaccine from China.

‘PSG did not violate FDA law’

Yesterday, Chief Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo said the PSG did not violate any provisions of Republic Act 3720, the amended FDA law, as asserted by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Earlier, Drilon cited that violators of the FDA law face a penalty of imprisonment ranging from one to 10 years or a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than half a million or both. – Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte Felipe